by Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First
ENOSBURGH — Law enforcement authorities arrested a Franklin County man that is believed to have killed his father and critically injured his mother this morning, Vermont News First has learned.
Jordan Lawyer, 29, of Enosburgh has been identified by authorities as the prime suspect in the domestic case. No charges have been filed yet.
Franklin County State’s Attorney Bram Kranichfeld said this morning his office is working closely with investigators. He said once they have more information he will review the case.
Lawyer was apprehended after a car chase that began when the suspect’s vehicle was first spotted on Vermont 105 near the Abbey Restaurant and subsequent there was a subsequent crash shortly before 11:30 a.m..
State police confirmed the apprehension and said they would issue a news release with details later.
Few details about the domestic dispute are available, but the case is centered at a home on West Enosburgh Road (Vermont 108) near Tyler Branch Road, according to authorities. It happened about 8:45 a.m.
The couple is believed to have been beaten, possibly with a baseball bat, according to two news sources familiar with the case. Initial reports indicated it was a shooting, but that was soon changed to a beating.
The husband was found dead outside the home.
Authorities had requested a helicopter and were looking for a place to land it, apparently to air-lift the victim to the UVM Medical Center.
Lawyer has had at least one previous arrest in an aggravated domestic assault with a weapon on a family member in 2022, police said.
The suspect was believed to have fled in a Vermont-registered 2015 Black Jeep Grand Cherokee. It was first spotted on Vermont 108 in Bakersfield about 9:30 a.m. and police combed the area.
Vermont State Police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Border Patrol and other law enforcement flooded the area looking for the suspect.
The investigation is in its early stages and involves members of VSP’s uniform division, Major Crime Unit, detective bureau, and Crime Scene Search Team.
It is expected to take an extended period of time because state police will need to seek a search warrant to enter the property to collect any evidence that would be need for a trial.
After the crime scene is processed by investigators, the plan is to bring the victim’s body to the office of Vermont’s Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death, state police spokesman Adam SIlverman said in an email.
This story continues to be updated as more information becomes available during the day.