ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Police on Monday released new details about a double-homicide investigation in St. Johnsbury. While we now know who was involved, there are still many unanswered questions.
Sunday morning just before 6 a.m., Vermont State Police were called to 16 Cottage Street after a reported domestic fight inside a home.
When they got there, troopers say they found Nicholas Johnson, 42, dead from a gunshot wound. His death was ruled a homicide.
Ben Lyons, 21, died at the hospital from a stab wound to the neck. His death is also being called a homicide.
But exactly what happened leading up to and during that incident is still unclear.
We know state police say two other people who live at the home were also injured. Patrick Mayhew, 33, was treated at the hospital. His wife, Jennifer Bradley, 44, was injured, too, but not seriously. She’s Lyons’ mother and Johnson’s former partner.
Police also say two children between the ages of 12 and 18 were in the home at the time but weren’t injured.
However, the family’s two dogs were also attacked. One of them died at the local animal hospital; the other is in critical condition at a canine trauma center in Massachusetts.
While police haven’t said what started this deadly fight, they did say they believe it’s an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. They’re still interviewing witnesses and we expect to learn more in the coming days.
No one faces charges at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the state police in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111 or to submit an anonymous tip online.