Barn fire in Lyndon ruled suspicious

A Worcester, Massachusetts woman has been arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault following a stabbing at a Waterbury hotel late Monday morning.

At 11:24 AM on June 9, state troopers responded to a report of a stabbing at the Best Western on Blush Hill Road. Investigators determined that Courtney Muchugu, 31, stabbed Arianis Morales, 23, of Springfield, Massachusetts, during an altercation. Morales sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Muchugu was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Berlin Barracks. She was ordered held without bail at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington. Her arraignment is scheduled for 12:30 PM Tuesday, June 10, in the Vermont Superior Court’s Criminal Division in Barre.

Proctorsville man charged in juvenile crime – State Police have arrested Mathew Murphy, 19, of Proctorsville, on multiple charges related to alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor.

The charges include two counts each of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct with a Child, Second Degree Unlawful Restraint, Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor, and one count of Aggravated Stalking. The investigation began in May 2025 following reports of inappropriate behavior.

Murphy is scheduled to appear in Vermont Superior Court – Windsor Criminal Division at 12:30 PM on June 10.

The name of the victim is being withheld in accordance with Vermont State Police policy regarding sexual assault and domestic violence cases.

Barn fire suspicious – Authorities are investigating a suspicious fire that destroyed an old barn in Lyndon early Saturday morning. The incident occurred at approximately 6:27 AM on June 7 at the intersection of Grimes Road and Greenpoint Lane.

The Lyndon Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire and arrived to find the barn fully engulfed in flames. Due to the extent of the damage, no suppression efforts were undertaken. The structure, owned by local resident Robert Sbarra, was used for storage and did not contain any animals at the time of the blaze.

Given the circumstances, the Lyndon Fire Department contacted the Vermont Department of Public Safety Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit. Investigators with the unit examined the scene and have since classified the fire as suspicious.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Sgt. James Wright at the Vermont State Police’s St. Johnsbury Barracks at (802) 748-3111, or submit an anonymous tip at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

Inmate charged in assault of prison guard – Vermont State Police have charged a Lowell, MA man with assaulting a correctional officer at Marble Valley Correctional Facility.

On May 28 investigators received a report that Xavier Horne, 20, had punched and tackled a Correctional Officer the previous day after refusing to follow commands from another officer. Horne, who is currently incarcerated, was issued a citation and is scheduled to appear in Vermont Superior Court in Rutland on July 28 at 10 AM to answer to the charge.