In the late morning of May 9, 2018, a seemingly routine traffic stop on Route 5 in Newbury, Vermont, took a tragic turn. Twenty-year-old Austin M. Durocher, a White male from Derby, was pulled over by a Vermont State Police trooper for an expired inspection sticker. After the initial interaction, the trooper returned to his cruiser to process the information. It was during these moments that the situation escalated with sudden and devastating finality.
While the trooper was occupied, Austin retrieved a firearm and took his own life inside his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
There was no indication of foul play, and consequently, no arrests were made nor were any suspects sought in connection with the death. The investigation concluded that Austin's death was self-inflicted. The event sent ripples of shock and grief through the community and all who knew the young man.
Austin, born on July 6, 1997, in Newport, Vermont, was a graduate of North Country Union High School. He was remembered by loved ones as a kind-hearted and good-natured individual with a shy smile and a great sense of humor. His interests included computer gaming, weightlifting, and bodybuilding. His sudden passing left a void in the lives of his extensive family, including his parents, stepparents, siblings, and grandparents. In his memory, his family requested that contributions be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
