In the small town of Townshend, Vermont, the life of 35-year-old Caucasian female Amanda Sanderson was tragically cut short in late October of 2017. Her death, which occurred alongside that of 43-year-old Steven Lovely, was the result of a violent dispute that ended in a double homicide and arson.
On the morning of Friday, October 27, 2017, firefighters were summoned to a log cabin on Shirley Circle after neighbors reported hearing explosions.
Upon their arrival, the home was already consumed by flames. It was after the fire was extinguished that the bodies of Sanderson and Lovely, who resided at the home, were discovered. Autopsies later confirmed that both individuals had died from gunshot wounds before the fire was intentionally set.
The investigation quickly led law enforcement to a suspect, Justin Orwat, a 46-year-old man from Springfield, Massachusetts. According to police, Orwat's wife, Tami Orwat, provided crucial information to investigators. She revealed that she and her husband had been with Sanderson and Lovely on the night of Thursday, October 26th, and into the early morning hours of Friday. A dispute reportedly erupted between Justin Orwat and Steven Lovely. Tami Orwat implicated her husband in the fatal shootings of both Sanderson and Lovely and also stated that he deliberately set the house on fire before they fled the scene together.
Following the investigation, a warrant was issued for Justin Orwat's arrest on charges of aggravated murder. At the time the warrant was issued, Orwat was already in custody in Massachusetts on unrelated charges. The case involved the collaborative efforts of the Vermont and Massachusetts state police, Vermont game wardens, and the FBI.
