Police search for ‘armed and dangerous’ man after woman found dead on popular Vermont hiking trail
Police search for ‘armed and dangerous’ man after woman found dead on popular Vermont hiking trail
- Woman’s body was found Thursday on the Delaware and Hudson Railroad
- Gunshots were heard in the area before the grim discovery
- Police are appealing to the public to remain ‘vigilant and vigilant’ as the man remains at large
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A massive manhunt is underway for an ‘armed and dangerous’ man after a woman was found dead on a popular Vermont hiking trail.
The woman’s body was discovered Thursday on the Delaware and Hudson Railroad after gunshots were heard in the area, police said.
Officers responded to a call about a deceased woman around 4:30 p.m. and found the woman dead at the scene.
Her death is being treated as ‘suspicious’ and no further information is being released while detectives carry out their investigation. An autopsy will also be performed to determine the cause of death.
A witness reported a possible suspect, according to police, was heading north on the railroad toward Vermont State’s Castleton campus after the gunshots were heard.
The manhunt was sparked after the discovery of a woman’s body near the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail near 1587 South Street in Castleton, VT
A witness reported a possible suspect was northbound on the trail walking toward Vermont State’s Castleton campus after the gunshots were heard
The witness described the man as a white male approximately 5’10” with short dark colored hair, last seen wearing a dark gray t-shirt and a black backpack.
Officers urged the public to stay ‘alert and vigilant’ amid concerns that the individual is ‘armed and dangerous’.
This investigation is in its initial stages and involves members of the Vermont State Police Major Crimes Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Army Division, Crime Scene Investigation Team, Victim Services Unit and Castleton Police Department.
Meanwhile, the state college has announced that its Castleton campus will remain closed while the man remains at large.
A statement from Vermont State University said: ‘For the safety of our campus community, all facilities on the Castleton campus in the Town of Castleton remain closed today, Friday, October 6. All events are cancelled. A shelter-in-place order continues for everyone on campus.
The Vermont State Police Major Crimes Unit has launched an investigation into the suspicious death
The witness described the man as a white male approximately 5’10”, short dark colored hair, last seen wearing a dark gray t-shirt and a black backpack.
All employees and students are asked not to travel to campus for any reason. Staff have the option to work remotely if they are able. Contact your supervisor if you have questions.
‘The Vermont State Police are keeping us updated on their investigation, and the suspect is not in custody at this time. There will still be a police presence in the area today.
‘The VTSU emergency management team is actively monitoring the situation. Please continue to monitor throughout the day for email and public safety alerts.’
Anyone with information that could assist investigators in this case is asked to call the Vermont State Police in Rutland at 802-773-9101.