PAWLET — The insurance company that had coverage for a Pawlet man who was 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., 24, 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.
Crossman Jr. 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, 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 three months, Elaine Pawlusiak Crossman, as his latest beneficiary, but she also was killed in the shooting spree.
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 son's money.
Unum did pay the other $258,000 in insurance proceeds to Rachael Crossman, the daughter of Crossman Sr. and sister to the defendant in the court case, records show. She lives in New York state.
The insurance company said in court papers that the 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 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.
Crossman Jr., who has been detained pending trial, has a history of mental health issues, authorities have said.
Rutland County State's Attorney Ian Sullivan said Thursday the state judge has said he wants the case ready for trial by February 2026. It is planned for Rutland County.
Sullivan said depositions of potential witnesses are now being taken by lawyers.
Vermont State Police said they had responded to the house in September 2024 and reported troopers 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.
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 later arrested the younger Crossman 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.
