The Vermont State Police is searching for an potentially “armed and dangerous” suspect involved in the “suspicious death” of a woman Thursday on a popular walking trail.
A witness reported that the suspect was headed northbound on the Rail Trail “after gunshots were heard,” a police press release noted. Officers found a dead woman “at the scene” when they arrived at that section of the trail. Authorities then transported the body to Burlington for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, the New England Cable News reported. (RELATED: ‘Keep A Slow, Slow Pace’: Massive Grizzly Bears Stalk Hikers On Trail For 20 Minutes)
Police described the suspect as “a white male approximately 5’10”, short dark-colored hair, last seen wearing a dark gray t-shirt and carrying a black backpack,” the initial police press release read.
Police asked locals Friday “to review their surveillance systems” and see if they observe a person who matches the description they gave of the suspect, an updated press release noted.
Police searching for suspect connected to Castleton death #VT https://t.co/0gZT5LqFeT pic.twitter.com/yYRJOuupxw
— Channel 3 News (@wcax) October 6, 2023
The Vermont State University campus is closed Friday due its proximity to the suspect, WCAX 3 reported. The university authorities issued a shelter in place request to their students and have Wellness Center’s counselors available for students, the outlet reported.
The 19.8 mile Rail Trail is noted as cutting through “scenic countryside with views of the nearby hills, villages, farms, fields and forests” and that there are places along the trail “to picnic, fish, and stop at a store for refreshments,” the Vermont Department of Forests-Parks and Recreation reported.