A ‘person of interest’ in the December 1 shooting death of David Peatman, 66 at his home in Eden has since failed to show for two St. Johnsbury court appearances, the Caledonian-Record newspaper reported today.
Shawn Allen Rich, 44, of St. Johnsbury was picked up by police on three active warrants, including cocaine possession, just hours after the shooting, the news report says. He was charged with resisting arrest.
The Caledonia County state’s attorney asked that he be held, but instead Judge Justin Jiron released him on $300 bail – which he paid, and has since missed two scheduled court appearances.
Rich reportedly has a history of hiding from the law, In 2019, he hid from a police search in a covert compartment in a St. Johnsbury home that reputedly was once a stop on the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves. Police eventually found him there.
On Thursday Dec. 1 at about 10:20 p.m., police received a report of shots fired at a home on Griggs Road. Responding troopers found Peatman dead with a gunshot to the chest in an apparent homicide.
Preliminary investigation indicates the parties involved fled the location following the shooting. No one is in custody at this time. The incident appears to be targeted.