Insurance company sues over triple homicide case in Pawlet

PAWLET — The insurance company that had provided coverage for a Pawlet man killed as part of a triple homicide at his home last fall is asking the federal court in Vermont to intercede on how to handle the money earmarked for the accused killer.

Brian M. Crossman Jr., 23, of Granville, N.Y. has pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated murder in the death of his father, stepmother and her son. If convicted, on any of the charges, Crossman will face a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

The son might normally be entitled to about $258,000 in life insurance proceeds from a routine death of his father, but federal and Vermont law does not allow a person involved in a death of another person to benefit financially, according to court papers.

Brian Crossman Sr., who had worked for Green Mountain Power as a lineman had two insurance policies, each valued at about $258,000, court records show.

Crossman, who served on the Pawlet Selectboard, had listed his new wife of 3 months, Erica (Pawlusiak) Crossman, as his latest beneficiary, but she also was killed in the shooting spree the weekend of Sept. 14-15, 2024.

Unum Life Insurance Company of America has now petitioned the U.S. District Court in Burlington to take possession of the $258,000 in proceeds until a proper distribution of the money can be determined for the money earmarked for the arrested son.

Unum did pay the other $258,000 in insurance proceeds to Rachael Crossman, the daughter of the dead man and sister to the defendant in the criminal court case, records show. She lives in Washington County in New York State.

The insurance company in Portland, Maine said in court papers its lawsuit is designed "to avoid multiple liability and unnecessary suits and costs incidental to them."

Unum said the Group Policy states that instead of making a death payment to the estate, the insurance company has the right to make a payment to the first surviving family members.

The normal order is spouse, child/children, mother or father, and sisters or brothers, the lawsuit said.

Unum said it has reached out to Brian Crossman Jr., about the life insurance policy, but he failed to respond. He is being held at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield.

A lawyer in Portland, Maine representing Unum said he was unable to speak for the company or to discuss how often this kind of public case comes along in the insurance business.

Crossman Jr., who has a history of mental health issues, has been held since shortly after the weekend shootings that he reported about 3:45 a.m. Sept. 15, 2024 at the home on Vermont 133, authorities have said.

Rutland County State's Attorney Ian Sullivan said last week the state judge has indicated he wants the triple homicide case ready for trial by February 2026. It is planned for Rutland

Sullivan said depositions of potential witnesses are now being taken by lawyers.

Vermont State Police said they had responded to the house on Sept. 15, 2024 and troopers reported at the time they found three dead people: Brian Crossman Sr., 46, his new wife, Erica (Pawlusiak) Crossman, 41, and her son, Colin Taft, 13, all of Pawlet.

The younger Crossman, who has a history of psychiatric issues, including schizophrenia, maintained he had gone for a walk at midnight and came back to the Pawlet house to find the three dead relatives, state police said. There were multiple shotguns throughout the house, police said. His bloody clothes were seized, but he was released pending further investigation, police said.

The medical examiner determined Brian Crossman Sr. died from gunshot wounds to the head and torso, Erica Crossman died from a gunshot wound to the head, and Colin Taft died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Crossman, the father, had been called out multiple times by GMP for power outages over the weekend and had arrived home from his last call about 12:15 a.m. Sunday Sept. 15, 2024, police said.

All three deaths were ruled homicides by the medical examiner. Both a 12-gauge and a 20-gauge shotgun were believed used, police said.

New York State Police arrested the younger Crossman on Sept. 20, 2024 as a fugitive from justice as he was getting discharged from the Glens Falls (N.Y.) Hospital where he had been admitted for psychiatric issues, officials said. He was eventually extradited back to Vermont for his arraignment in early October.