The Lamoille County Deputy Sheriff has been placed on administrative leave after he allegedly compromised a murder trial in Hyde Park. NBC5 confirmed that Christopher Turner was placed on administrative leave after speaking with Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux Jr.Seth Brunell had been accused of second-degree murder in the death of Fern Feather, a transgender woman who was found stabbed to death in 2022. However, after three days of his trial, Brunell accepted a plea deal for a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter after the judge learned that Deputy Sheriff Christopher Turner had questioned Brunell while he was transporting him to court.The plea led to the judge sentencing Brunell to four to 10 years in prison, all suspended with 18 months to serve. However, because Brunell has been behind bars since his arrest in 2022, he will be released from police custody on Friday. He will still have to complete 10 years of probation and wear an ankle monitor.The ruling left the victim’s family devastated.”The only reason you’re getting out now is because of the gross negligence of your county sheriff’s department,” Feather’s mother said in court on Thursday as emotions ran high.NBC5’s Anna Guber spoke with Turner on Friday and will have more beginning at 4 p.m. and online.
The Lamoille County Deputy Sheriff has been placed on administrative leave after he allegedly compromised a murder trial in Hyde Park.
NBC5 confirmed that Christopher Turner was placed on administrative leave after speaking with Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux Jr.
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Seth Brunell had been accused of second-degree murder in the death of Fern Feather, a transgender woman who was found stabbed to death in 2022. However, after three days of his trial, Brunell accepted a plea deal for a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter after the judge learned that Deputy Sheriff Christopher Turner had questioned Brunell while he was transporting him to court.
The plea led to the judge sentencing Brunell to four to 10 years in prison, all suspended with 18 months to serve. However, because Brunell has been behind bars since his arrest in 2022, he will be released from police custody on Friday. He will still have to complete 10 years of probation and wear an ankle monitor.
The ruling left the victim’s family devastated.
“The only reason you’re getting out now is because of the gross negligence of your county sheriff’s department,” Feather’s mother said in court on Thursday as emotions ran high.
NBC5’s Anna Guber spoke with Turner on Friday and will have more beginning at 4 p.m. and online.
