Retired university dean Honoree Fleming found shot to death on hiking trail | US News
A retired university dean was found shot to death on a Vermont hiking trail.
Honoree Fleming, the former dean of education at Vermont State University’s Castleton Campus, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head on Thursday.
Fleming, 77, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head on the Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail, a multiple use trail along the the Vermont-New York border.
According to the Vermont State Police, Fleming began her walk on the Rail Trail around 4.00pm. She started walking south from a pavilion located on the Castleton college campus.
She was found dead only 30 minutes later ‘a mile from the campus she called home,’ Vermont State University said in a statement.
Police have identified as person of interest, described as a white male standing 5’10” with red hair. He was last seen wearing a dark grey t-shirt and a black backpack.
Vermont State Police are asking the public to remain alert for any sign of the person of interest, who they believe is armed and dangerous.
They are also asking local businesses and homeowners in Castleton to ‘review their surveillance systems and game cameras for the possible suspect from early afternoon to evening hours of October 5.’
For years, Fleming served as dean of education at Vermont State University’s Castleton Campus.
‘Honoree was a part of the Castleton family and was beloved by faculty, staff, and students,’ the college said on Saturday. ‘Scores of students benefited from Dr. Fleming’s teachings and research.’
‘This is an unbelievable tragedy for the Castleton campus and for all of Vermont State University,’ Vermont State President Mike Smith said. ‘Honoree will be deeply missed.’
She was also the wife of best-selling author Ron Powers, who previously won a Pulitzer Prize for the book Flags of Our Fathers in 2000.
Powers said that his wife was walking on her ‘favorite trail’ when the tragedy occurred.
‘I have never known a more sterling heart and soul than hers,’ Powers said. ‘She has taken far more than half my own heart and soul with her.’
Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.
Get your need-to-know
latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
