In the autumn of 2023, the life of Jeffrey Caron, a 42-year-old White man from Barre, Vermont, was cut short by a gunshot. On October 27, 2023, hunters discovered his body in a wooded area off Gore Road in Plainfield. An autopsy by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed he had died from a gunshot wound to the torso, and his death was ruled a homicide. Investigators also noted that his body had been partially burned.
Police described the killing as a targeted, isolated incident stemming from a dispute over drugs.
According to court records, the fatal encounter occurred on or about October 24, 2023. Investigators believe Caron and his friend, Chris Relation, had devised a plan to rob Relation’s roommate, Kyle Bressette, of drugs. The plan allegedly involved Caron, armed with a pipe, lying in wait at Relation’s home in Berlin. When Bressette arrived, a fight broke out between him and Caron, which ended when Bressette allegedly shot Caron in the chest. Following the shooting, police said Bressette drove Caron’s body to the remote woods in Plainfield and attempted to burn it.
The Vermont State Police investigation moved swiftly, utilizing evidence from game camera footage, Facebook messages, and a confidential informant. On October 30, police obtained a search warrant for the home on Turner Hill Road in Berlin where Bressette and Relation were staying. When the Vermont State Police Tactical Services Unit arrived, both men refused to surrender, leading to a standoff that lasted several hours. Eventually, they were taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities charged Kyle Bressette, 36, with second-degree murder and Chris Relation, 52, with being an accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. Both men were initially ordered held without bail. Bressette pleaded not guilty to the murder charge at his arraignment. Relation also initially pleaded not guilty to his charge.
In October 2024, Chris Relation pleaded guilty to the felony count of accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. He was sentenced to a term of two to six years, with all but 317 days suspended, and was given credit for time served. His sentence also included 10 years of probation and 200 hours of community service. As of October 2024, Kyle Bressette remains held without bail, and his case for second-degree murder is active and pending in court.
