By Guy Page
The Senate this week passed S.193 to provide a security holding facility for mentally ill people charged with violent crimes. As the bill moves over to the House, its chief citizen advocate has produced a lengthy list of killings by suspected mentally ill people that, she says, could have been prevented if the state had a secure facility to evaluate their condition.
In a letter sent Friday, April 3 to the House Corrections and Institutions Committee, House Judiciary Committee and House Healthcare Committee, Kelly Carroll of Bennington said “Individuals are often warehoused in correctional settings while refusing or unable to participate in evaluations, resulting in prolonged delays without meaningful treatment.”
There are multiple cases that reflect the same systemic gaps and need for a forensic facility, Carroll said:
- Elizabeth Teague murdered her boss and wounded two coworkers at the Eveready battery plant in Bennington in 1991. You were discussing her case yesterday. She was found not competent to stand trial and has remained in the custody of the Department of Mental Health for more than three decades. State Attorney Erica Marthage can speak to the specifics of this case. The attached Rutland Herald article outlines the challenges, cost estimates and placement considerations from years ago. Now consider that this has continued for over 36 years — during which she has refused medication and participation in treatment. Think about how much has changed in your lives and in Vermont over those decades — and yet, in cases like this, nothing has changed in how Vermont manages them.
- In 2020, Averil Beliveau murdered her boyfriend. Following the homicide, she developed a false narrative of self-defense and engaged in victim blaming. Reports indicate she had no defensive wounds and that the attack occurred from behind. She did not report the crime for several days. Six years later, the case remains unresolved due to competency-related delays.
- Elijah Compagna was found not competent and deemed dangerous, yet was placed in a community-based group home in 2025. While there, he was able to lure a young woman into the home and stab her to death — in a setting not designed or staffed to manage that level of risk.
- Jordan Lawyer killed his father and attacked his mother in 2024 after clear warning signs were reported and not acted upon. The system lacked a meaningful mechanism for intervention or commitment.
- Brian Crossman murdered his father, stepmother, and stepbrother in 2025 after warning signs were again missed or unaddressed.
- Matthew Gomes murdered both of his parents after calling 911 saying he was in a mental crisis. He was referred to outpatient services.
- Zaaian Mavish-Jammeh murdered her shelter coordinator with an axe at the Groundworks facility in Brattleboro in 2023. She is currently being held without bail in the Department of Corrections and is scheduled to return to court in May. She has been found competent in 2024, meaning her case is proceeding through the traditional criminal process rather than competency delays and will most likely be planning a not guilty by reason of insanity defense. This case highlights the contrast between individuals deemed competent and those who remain in prolonged competency-related limbo.
- James Perry murdered his daughter, Karina, in 2021 and was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2025. His family strongly advocated for placement in a secure forensic facility, but the State instead considered and pursued less secure community-based options like a hotel, nursing home or group home.
Furthermore, Carroll noted that Assistant State’s Attorney Jared Bianchi testified in Senate Judiciary on S.193 and “presented a video of Darren Pronto, my daughter Emily’s killer, stating in his own words that he could murder anyone he wanted and that the State could not stop him. I strongly encourage your committees to invite Mr. Bianchi to testify and present that video.”
She added that Vermont has approximately 167 psychiatric hospital beds, with reports indicating that 156 were filled as of February 28.