The Washington County man accused of killing his father, stepmother and stepbrother will continue to be held without bail after pleading not guilty.  

Brian Crossman Jr. 22, of Granville, appeared virtually in Vermont Superior Court in Rutland on Thursday. Crossman Jr. is charged with three counts of murder in the killings of 46-year-old Brian Crossman Sr.; 41-year-old Erica (Pawlusiak) Crossman; and his 13-year-old stepbrother Colin Taft. The murders took place early on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 15 at the family home on Vermont Route 133 in Pawlet, which is just over the border from Granville.

Crossman waived a formal extradition last Friday in Warren County Court and was picked up by Vermont State Police around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. He is being held without bail at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland.

In a hearing that took less than 5 minutes, Crossman’s attorney entered not guilty pleas on his behalf. Then, the prosecution outlined the reasons why Crossman should be held without bail. This included the violent nature of the crime.

Crossman used a 12-guage shotgun to kill his father and a 20-guage shotgun to shoot his stepmother and stepbrother, according to a police affidavit. The body of Crossman Sr. was found at the entrance to the mud room and the bodies of Erica Crossman and Colin Taft were found in their respective bedrooms.

Other family members who spoke with police said that Crossman Jr. was having a troubled relationship with his father and had trouble fitting in a at school or socializing with peers because of a mental health issue and disability, according to the affidavit.

Crossman, dressed in red jumpsuit, looked down at times and did not speak in the brief appearance.

Crossman will return to court at a later date for a hearing on the weight of the evidence.