Vermont State Police investigates suspicious death in southern Vermont

Submitted by tim on Sat, 08/23/2025 - 10:43

LONDONDERRY, Vermont (Friday, Aug. 22, 2025) — The Vermont State Police is investigating a suspicious death in southern Vermont. The Bennington Police Department is providing assistance.

The investigation began at about 3:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, when Bennington police were notified that a woman had been dropped off at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington with a significant injuries including head injury believed to be a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Bennington officers secured the hospital, determined that no shooting had occurred on site, and detained a person of interest. The local agency learned the woman had been injured outside their community and turned over the case to the Vermont State Police.

VSP’s initial investigation established the woman was harmed at a home on Vermont Route 11 near Thompsonburg Road in the Windham County town of Londonderry. Troopers have responded to the scene, secured the location and are processing it for evidence. Route 11 was closed for a time during the initial response but has since reopened.

This investigation is in its early stages and involves members of the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Search Team, Field Force Division and Victim Services Unit.

The victim’s body will be brought to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. The autopsy is expected to occur this weekend. The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of relatives and further investigation. No information is currently available regarding the individual who has been detained.

Anyone with information that could assist investigators in this case should call the Vermont State Police in Westminster at 802-722-4600 or submit an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

A statement from the Bennington Police Department is available BELOW or at this link. The state police is unable to release additional details at this time. VSP will provide updates as the investigation proceeds.

BENNINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
118 SOUTH STREET
BENNINGTON, VERMONT 05201

PAUL J. DOUCETTE
CHIEF OF POLICE  

August 22, 2025

Media Release

Assist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
100 Hospital Drive
Bennington   

At approximately 3:30PM, the Bennington Police Department Communications Center received a report of a patient at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center with a significant head injury, possible gun shot wound. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center initiated a lock down for the safety of patients and staff. Members of the Bennington Police Department and Bennington Rescue Squad responded to the medical center.

Upon arrival, members of the Bennington Police Department worked with members of the hospital security team and emergency room staff to secure the medical center. Initial investigation revealed a female had been dropped off at the emergency department with significant head trauma and other injuries. Investigation revealed the initial incident occurred outside of the Town of Bennington and the investigation has been turned over to the Vermont State Police. Members of the Bennington Police Department are working with investigators from the Vermont State Police assisting with the investigation.

The lockdown was lifted after the Bennington Police determined a firearm was not used on the grounds of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. The hospital returned to normal operations. There is no risk to members of the Bennington community related to this incident.

The Bennington Police Department did take a person of interest into custody at the medical center related to this incident. The name of the person is being withheld at this time pending further investigation. Please seek further media information from the Vermont State Police – Shaftsbury Barracks.

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