On a tragic day in August 2015, the life of 43-year-old White/Caucasian female Regina Herring was violently cut short in Barre, Vermont. The events of August 7th unfolded as part of a horrifying sequence orchestrated by her own cousin, Jody Herring, who was consumed by anger over losing custody of her daughter. This personal grievance spiraled into a deadly rampage that would claim the lives of four people, including Regina.
The nightmare began at a home in the neighboring town of
Berlin, where Regina was with her sister, Rhonda Herring, and their mother, Julie Ann Falzarano. Jody Herring arrived at the residence and, in a calculated act of violence, shot and killed Rhonda and Julie Ann. According to court documents, Regina either witnessed or heard the brutal murders of her sister and mother. In a desperate fight for her own life, she fled upstairs and barricaded herself in a room. However, her efforts were in vain as Jody broke through the door and fatally shot her as well. The bodies of the three women were discovered the following day by Rhonda's daughter, Tiffany.
The triple homicide in Berlin was not an isolated incident. After killing her relatives, Jody Herring proceeded to Barre, where she targeted and murdered Lara Sobel, a social worker with the state's Department for Children and Families. Jody blamed Sobel for her role in the custody case involving her 9-year-old daughter and believed her relatives had reported her to the state. Following the shooting of Sobel, bystanders subdued Jody until police arrived and took her into custody.
The investigation that followed connected all four murders to Jody Herring. Ballistic analysis confirmed that the same. 270 caliber rifle was used in all the killings. Investigators also uncovered evidence of premeditation, including a "hit list" that Jody had created which included the names of her murdered cousins. Faced with overwhelming evidence, Jody Herring ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder. She received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Lara Sobel, and an additional 20 years to life for the killings of Regina Herring, Rhonda Herring, and Julie Ann Falzarano.
