In the quiet town of Newbury, Vermont, a heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded on May 3, 2021, forever altering the lives of a local family. Karina Rheaume, a 38-year-old Caucasian woman, had grown increasingly concerned about the deteriorating mental state of her father, 70-year-old James Perry Jr. Believing her family and neighbors were plotting to harm him, Perry had warned them to stay away from his Deerfield Lane home.
Despite these warnings, Karina, a loving mother, went to visit him that Monday afternoon, bearing a platter of cookies as a gesture of care.
Concern mounted when Karina's boyfriend, Troy Brock, was unable to reach her for several hours. He drove to Perry's residence to check on her, only to be met by a deeply disturbing scene. Perry confronted him, armed with a rifle, and chillingly stated that Karina was dead and that Brock would be next if he came any closer. Brock immediately retreated and alerted the Vermont State Police at approximately 7:10 p.m. When troopers arrived, they found Perry barricaded inside his home, initiating a tense standoff that would last for hours. The Vermont State Police's Tactical Services Unit and Crisis Negotiation Unit were dispatched to the scene, working through the night to bring a peaceful resolution.
At around 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 4, James Perry Jr. surrendered to the authorities and was taken into custody without further incident. The grim discovery of Karina Rheaume's body was made at the residence. An autopsy would later confirm that she died from shotgun wounds to the head and torso. During interviews with police, Perry admitted to the shooting, explaining his paranoid belief that his daughter was part of a "ploy" by unknown individuals to gain access to his home. He recounted hiding behind a pillar with a 12-gauge shotgun as she approached his door and shooting her. He also admitted to cutting her neck with a pocketknife.
James Perry Jr. was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and reckless endangerment. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following a psychiatric evaluation, he was at first deemed competent to stand trial, despite suffering from delusions. However, a later court order in April 2025 found him not guilty by reason of insanity. A judge concluded that Perry was in a "paranoid and psychotic state" and "floridly psychotic with paranoid delusions and hallucinations" at the time of the killing, lacking the capacity to understand the criminality of his actions. This ruling meant he would not stand trial for the murder of his daughter.
