In the small town of Townshend, Vermont, the autumn of 2017 was shattered by a brutal act of violence that claimed the lives of two people. On October 27, 43-year-old Steven Lovely, a Caucasian male, and Amanda Sanderson, age 35, were found dead. Their deaths were the result of gunshot wounds, a grim discovery that would unravel a story of violence and lead to a years-long pursuit of justice.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly pointed towards a suspect from out of state.
Authorities identified Justin Orwat, a man from Springfield, Massachusetts, as the individual responsible for the deaths of Lovely and Sanderson. The motive and the specific circumstances that brought Orwat to Townshend and led to the fatal encounter were meticulously pieced together by law enforcement. Evidence collected by the Vermont State Police, in conjunction with federal agencies including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, was crucial in building the case against him.
Ultimately, Justin Orwat was brought to justice for his crimes. He was convicted on state charges of manslaughter for the killings of Steven Lovely and Amanda Sanderson. In addition to the manslaughter conviction, Orwat faced federal charges for illegally possessing the. 45 caliber handgun used in the commission of the murders. On December 10, 2021, a Windham Superior Court judge sentenced him to a term of 179 to 180 months for the manslaughters. This was followed by a consecutive 90-month federal sentence handed down on February 7, 2022, for the firearms violation, ensuring that Orwat would serve a total of twenty-two and a half years in prison for his role in the tragic deaths of the two victims.
