Police release sketch of person of interest in 77-year-old retired college dean’s death

Vermont State Police have released a composite sketch of a person of interest in the killing of a retired college dean.

Investigators continue to seek the person responsible for the murder of Honoree Fleming. The 77-year-old was fatally shot on the afternoon of Oct. 5 on the Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail in Castleton.  

Police are looking for a white man with short, red hair and wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack. He is considered to be armed and dangerous.

Authorities do not know if this was a targeted attack.

Fleming was a retired dean and professor of education at Vermont State University at Castleton. Anyone with information is asked to contact Vermont State Police at 802-773-9101. People can also provide an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

The sketch of the subject was prepared by composite police sketch artist Detective Sgt. Adam Temple of the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office in Bath, Maine. He traveled to Vermont earlier this week to meet with witnesses who reported seeing the subject on the rail trail.

Also, detectives with the Vermont State Police continue to review potential evidence in the case, including forensic evidence with the assistance of the Vermont Forensic Laboratory at the Department of Public Safety in Waterbury.  

In addition, uniformed troopers from the Field Force Division will maintain a presence in and around Castleton and the Vermont State University Castleton Campus.