Granville man at center of triple homicide now named in life insurance legal issue

GLENS FALLS – The Granville man accused of killing his father, stepmother and 13-year-old stepbrother last September is now at the center of a different type of legal issue, as his father’s life insurer cannot legally give the $258,000 policy payout to the man accused in his death.

Brian Crossman Jr., 23, pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder in October 2024 after being extradited from New York to Vermont, where the alleged murders occurred. Now, legal documents have been filed by UNUM Life Insurance Company of America with the United States District Court of Vermont requesting that the court intercede on how to handle the money, which otherwise would have gone to Crossman Jr.

Unum asked the court to be permitted to remit the death benefits into the registry of the court pending judgement, and that Crossman Jr. and his sister Rachel Crossman would be required to interplead and settle among themselves their rights to the death benefits.

The decedent had a total of $516,000 in basic and supplemental coverages, according to the court documents, which were filed in April. Unum had previously paid Rebecca Crossman 50% of the decedent’s death benefits, or $259,000. The remaining $258,000 is the subject of the interpleader, which Unum filed with the court. Both Crossman Jr. and his sister have claims for the money following their father’s death, according to the court documents.

According to the court documents, Vermont’s “slayer” statute says that a person cannot acquire property, power, or other benefits as the result of their intentional or unlawful killing of that person, and that a court has the power to revoke or otherwise dispose or distribute those benefits as a killer cannot profit from their own intentional wrongdoings.

Unum also informed the court that it has sent multiple letters to Brian Crossman Jr. asking him if he would be willing to disclaim his interest in his father’s death benefits, and according to Unum, Crossman Jr. has failed to respond to them.

Ultimately, the court will be able to determine what happens with the funds. Crossman Jr. is currently incarcerated in the Southern State Correction Facility in Springfield, Vermont. A trial date for his case has not yet been set, but it is expected to be scheduled for early 2026.

A Vermont affidavit filed in the alleged murder case reports that Crossman Jr. had called police shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. When police entered the residence at 2733 Vermont Rt. 133, they discovered the deceased bodies of Crossman Jr.’s father, Pawlet Select board member Brian Crossman Sr., 46, his wife Erica (Pawlusiak) Crossman, 41, and her son Colin Taft, 13.

Brian Crossman Sr. and Erica Crossman had been married in July 2024, and lived in the Pawlet home with Taft. Crossman Jr. is a resident of Granville, New York.

The affidavit filed in Vermont, which led to Crossman Jr.’s arrest, includes information from the three autopsies, as well as information collected during police interviews with friends and family members of the victims after they were found.