Month: October 2023

A suspect remained at large following the still-unsolved murder of a retired dean near the school last week. Officials said that 77-year-old former dean and professor Honoree Fleming was fatally shot on the Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail last week, killed from a gunshot wound to the head.

Detectives said they have been interviewing numerous witnesses and residents in the area, and are looking at surveillance footage from the area in order to try and identify the suspected killer. Witnesses described a white male with short red hair, approximately 5’10”, last seen wearing a dark grey t-shirt and carrying a black backpack. State police have called the suspect “armed and dangerous” and asked homes and businesses near the trail to go over their security cameras in case they have footage of this man.  Authorities believe that the killing of Fleming appears to be random.

Fleming lived in Castleton with her husband, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Powers. Powers said that the rail trail was one of Ms. Fleming’s favorite walks, and that she started on the hike at around 4pm from the pavilion area at the college campus and was walking south towards Poultney, just a few miles from the New York state border. Mr Powers posted online: “Those of you who knew her know that she was beautifully named. I have never known a more sterling heart and soul than hers. She has taken far more than half my own heart and soul with her … There is an area-wide dragnet out for her killer. Police believe that it was random, but all possibilities remain open.” 

Students returned to Vermont State University on Sunday and Monday ahead of the re-start of classes on Tuesday, after classes were not held at the Castleton campus on Thursday due to fall break. Vermont State University said in a statement on social media: “Honoree was a part of the Castleton family and was beloved by faculty, staff, and students. Scores of students benefited from Dr. Fleming’s teachings and research. … This is an unbelievable tragedy for the Castleton campus and for all of Vermont State University. Honoree will be deeply missed.”

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President Biden said on Monday that at least 11 Americans were among those killed in Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend, after the terrorist group launched the worst attack on the Jewish nation in 50 years. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Mike Herzog and Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer also said that American citizens were also among those Hamas took hostage and brought to Gaza. President Biden said U.S. officials “also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas.

Hamas militants invaded Israeli villages and towns on Sunday in an attack from land, air and sea, with disturbing videos on social media showing militants killing Israeli civilians and soldiers, and taking others, including children and elderly women, hostage and bringing them to Gaza. A Hamas military wing spokesperson said that those who were kidnapped were being held in hideouts around Gaza, including in tunnels.

Israel is now striking back against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, after an estimated 700 Israelis have been killed, with more than 2,000 are wounded and 150 are confirmed to have been taken captive by Hamas since Saturday. Gaza health officials report at least 300 Palestinians have been killed with 2,200 injured.

In response to the war, the United States announced it was sending additional military aid to Israel and moving its Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to “bolster regional deterrence efforts.”

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