By Guy Page

A Barton woman is facing multiple charges after police say she left a 12-day-old infant without proper care for several hours in St. Johnsbury.

St. Johnsbury police said officers were notified by the Department for Children and Families at about 2:55 AM Sept. 26 that an infant had been abandoned at 401 Western Avenue. The child’s mother, Nicole Merrill, 37, of Barton missed a mid-September court date to face charges of fleeing police; according to officials she was in labor on the date of her court appearance. She was given another court date. Merrill (photo at left) also faces pending Orleans County cases involving an alleged 2025 hit-and-run and 2024 charges of drunken driving and cruelty to a child. The latter charge stems from an allegation that she drove under the influence with her 18-month-old daughter in the vehicle.

On September 26, police found the infant inside a room and determined that Merrill had allegedly locked herself in a bathroom for several hours while the baby was crying and needed care. Witnesses told police Merrill later left the residence without the infant and did not return.

Police said the child had gone without proper food and care for several hours. Officers took the infant into protective custody and brought the child to the St. Johnsbury Police Department, where DCF became involved.

Police also said a toilet was damaged during the incident.

Merrill faces charges of abandonment or exposure of a baby, cruelty to a child, cruelty to a person having custody of another, first-degree aggravated domestic assault and unlawful mischief. She was scheduled to appear Oct. 5 in Caledonia County Superior Court.

Massachusetts man dies from injuries in Marlboro crash – A Massachusetts man has died from injuries suffered in a three-vehicle crash on Route 9 in Marlboro last week, Vermont State Police said. Michael Hannum, 65, of Ware, Massachusetts, died at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center following the Sept. 30 crash near Staver Road.

Police said Hannum was driving a 2026 Jeep Wrangler west on Route 9 at about 4:14 PM when the Jeep crossed the center line and struck two eastbound vehicles. Hannum suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Dartmouth Hitchcock. State police said Oct. 5 that the hospital had notified investigators of his death.

David Shade, 71, of Cogan Station, Pennsylvania, was driving a GMC Sierra and was not injured. Russell B. Hawkins, 67, of Chesterfield, Virginia, suffered minor injuries while driving a Chevrolet Traverse and was taken to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Westminster Barracks at 802-722-4600, option 3.

Readsboro man held without bail on sexual assault, domestic assault charges – A Readsboro man was held without bail Wednesday after Vermont State Police accused him of sexually assaulting and injuring a domestic partner.

State police said they were notified shortly after midnight Oct. 7 of a sexual assault in Readsboro. Following an investigation, troopers arrested Aiden Bimmler, 24, (top, photo at right).

Police allege Bimmler sexually assaulted a domestic partner and caused bodily harm. Bimmler was charged with sexual assault and first-degree aggravated domestic assault and lodged at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility without bail. He was cited to appear Wednesday in Bennington County Superior Court, Criminal Division.