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By Michael Donoghue
Vermont News First
Ten days after his death, Scott Kastner, 42, was identified Tuesday as the man that died following a vicious beating at Burlington City Hall Park, city police said.
The name of the Pittsfield, Mass. native was released 10 days after Kastner died at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.
Burlington Police said Tuesday they were still waiting for a cause and manner of death ruling from Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Elaine R. Amoresano. Death was listed as 8:59 a.m. Aug. 16, according to the state death certificate.
Shaun Kastner, a brother, said the family was told that the chief medical examiner’s office wanted to be 100 percent certain for the cause and manner of death before making a final determination.
His brother will be missed, Shaun Kastner said.
“He loved to sing. He loved his kids,” Shaun Kastner said about his brother.
Two of the victim’s children, ages 5 and 6, were living with Kastner in Burlington. Two others, ages 17 and 18, are living in Massachusetts, Shaun Kastner said.
His mother, Teresa Kastner Watford, has created a GoFundMe account in the hopes to generate $10,000 toward the cost of the funeral.
Watford declined comment when reached by Vermont News First.
“It’s too much,” she said about the premature loss of her son, referring questions to her other children.
The severe daylight beating by juveniles happened the afternoon of Aug. 11 about 1:30 p.m., but Burlington Police never released the name of the injured victim.
A week later, Vermont News First, citing informed sources, was the first news outlet to report the victim had died sometime over the weekend.
Interim Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke confirmed the death.
Burlington Police said it had officers on foot patrol on Church Street on Aug. 11 when they came across the assault in progress with the injured man by City Hall Park.
The three juveniles fled on foot and by bicycle in broad daylight, but the officers were able to chase down the suspects, Police Lt. Mike Henry said.
The three youths, believed to be roughly 14 to 16 years old, are facing proceedings in Vermont Family Court.
Those court proceedings are confidential and have very limited consequences due to the lack of rehabilitation services for youthful offenders within Vermont.
One suspect carried a gun, and police determined it was displayed while they attacked the victim, Henry reported. He said additional arrests were anticipated.
The victim was taken to the UVM Medical Center for treatment of critical injuries. His condition went downhill in recent days.
The funeral for Kastner is planned for 11:30 a.m. Saturday Sept. 6 outdoors at the Unity Terrace at Dwyer-Wellington Funeral Home, 220 East Street, Pittsfield MA.
Anyone with information about the attack and death is asked to contact Burlington Police Detective Zach Beal at zbeal@bpdvt.org or at (802) 540-2364.
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Categories: Burlington, Crime, Public Safety
Really sad, 3 boys aged 14-16 years old.
Maybe the parents should be held accountable, how can you raise children like this?
I mentioned parental accountability in another article regarding this crime and was disagreed with. I stand by my belief.
In Vermont, as far as legal liability for a licensed establishment overserving alcohol, the bartender, the waitress, and even the owner of the business or the landlord leasing the building can be held responsible. With that established, it doesn’t seem like a big stretch to blame parents for the acts of their non-adult children, at least civilly. It is not often pursued, unless their pockets are deep.
The younger generations are producing way too many sociopaths & psychopaths. This can’t be turned around. You can’t un-sear a seared conscience. Parents are the frontline.
The invocation of the term “parents” in the plural form is being very optimistic in this case. The sad and unfortunate beating death of a Black man in the middle of downtown Burlington during daylight hours seems like it would be a bigger news story, but the apparent absence of coverage makes me suspect something about the ethnicity of the alleged perpetrators. Let me just say, that despite them being juveniles and having the usual limitations on information about them, if they were white, this would be international news and we would have photos and descriptions of them by now.
Hey Burlington…keep it classy! Mayor Emma-Hyphen, if you asked for some more help from the State Police or even to bring in the National Guard to control your thugs, the Governor may just oblige you. In the meantime, I hope the Mayor and her fellow progressives on the City Council can put a nice shine on this latest publicity of why no one should consider bringing their 12-year old shoe shopping in Burlington.
VPR said there had been assaults in the park. No mention of homicide.
Parents? This is 100% the result of the government wanting to replace parents.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-kastner-family-in-their-time-of-need
Here is the gofundme
Hmmm, Pittsfield MA? Wonder were the youths were from? Wonder why he was beaten to death?
We need to change the child shield laws. These ill conceived laws are the primary cause of violence by young people.
The law should only shield 1 or 2 time misdemeanor offenders – not people that committee multiple misdemeanors or felonies. These murders need to be tried as adults and suffer the consequences of their actions. Society needs protection, not them.
Gene, Living near the VT, Massachusetts State line and having had a drug dealer live in this apt building a few years ago (quite a long story), having an office in Pittsfield and belonging to an civic organization there, can tell you that most of the ‘Youths’ causing problems in Pittsfield, Ma. commonly are involved in drug distribution and coming from the Springfield, Ma and Hartford Ct areas, check arrest and court cases. Most likely controlled substances were involved.
Prosecute as adults. 1sr degree murder. No parole.
Absolutely, they want to play like adults, then punish them as adults.
Does Stanak ever comment on these atrocities or does she just ignore them? She just generalizes and blames whoever is most convenient…