On December 14, 2022, the community of Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, was unsettled by the discovery of a deceased individual inside a residence at 78 Hastings Street. A welfare check initiated by the St. Johnsbury Police Department at approximately 9:45 a.m., following a report of a possible shooting, led to the grim finding. The Vermont State Police were called in to lead the investigation into what was deemed a suspicious death.
The victim was identified as Israel Jimenez Lugo, a
49-year-old Hispanic male who resided at the Hastings Street home. An autopsy later confirmed that Lugo's death was a homicide, caused by a gunshot wound to his torso. Investigators from the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and the Crime Scene Search Team spent considerable time processing the scene for evidence.
In the weeks that followed, the investigation led to the arrest of four individuals in connection with Lugo's murder. Law enforcement alleged that the motive behind the fatal shooting was a robbery linked to the sale of illegal drugs. The suspects were identified as Rafael Rodriguez, 34; Natasha Cady, 29; Brittany Clark, 33; and Michael Ringuette, 55. Rodriguez faced charges of first-degree murder, assault and robbery, and burglary of an occupied dwelling while armed. Cady, Clark, and Ringuette were charged with aiding in the commission of these crimes, with Ringuette also facing an additional charge of unlawful restraint.
According to court documents, the four individuals were involved in a plan to rob Israel Jimenez Lugo. The robbery and fatal shooting were believed to have occurred during the overnight hours of December 13-14, 2022. Investigators determined that Rodriguez was the one who shot Lugo during the course of the robbery. The Vermont State Police, with assistance from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, took the four suspects into custody. In addition to these arrests, authorities also announced they were searching for a fifth person of interest, 30-year-old Danny Daniels of Philadelphia, in connection with the homicide.
