Students and residents in Castleton, Vermont, are being urged to lock their doors and remain vigilant as police search for a killer who shot retired dean Honoree Fleming on a walking trail last week. Fleming, a former dean and professor of education at Vermont State University, was found dead on Thursday, approximately a mile south of the campus. Authorities have not determined if the community is at further risk or if Fleming was specifically targeted.
Maj. Dan Trudeau, commander of the Vermont State Police’s criminal division, advised the public to exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings. Detectives have been conducting interviews with individuals residing near the Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail, as well as those present in the area between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on the day of the incident. A witness reported seeing a white male with short, red hair, approximately 5-foot-10 in height, walking northbound on the trail towards the campus after gunshots were heard. The individual is considered armed and dangerous.
Castleton, located in west-central Vermont, is a town of approximately 4,500 people known for its scenic mountain views and quarries. The university, founded in 1787, reopened on Monday after a fall break. Increased police presence has been observed in the town, with cruisers periodically patrolling the campus and surrounding community.
Residents have expressed a mix of concern and reassurance. Mary Waite, a Castleton resident, has been cautious and closely monitoring the area behind her house, which leads to the trail. Valma Brown, an employee at the Castleton Village Store, feels safe due to the police presence. Some students, such as John Hendley, a senior from Oneonta, New York, have chosen to avoid the trail until the situation is resolved.
Fleming’s husband, Ron Powers, is an author known for co-writing “Flags of Our Fathers” and has received a Pulitzer Prize for criticism. The investigation into Fleming’s death is ongoing.