The Vermont Attorney General’s Office will take on a larger role in prosecuting serious crimes in Addison County as state’s attorney Eva Vekos faces pressure to resign.The news was first reported by news outlet VTDigger. In a March 17 letter to local law enforcement and advocacy groups, the office outlined plans to increase its involvement in investigations and prosecutions involving vulnerable victims, including sexual assault, child abuse and homicide cases.The directive follows years of controversy surrounding Vekos, who would ordinarily be assigned cases of that nature, stemming from a January 2024 DUI charge.Vekos had driven to the scene of a homicide in Bridport where Vermont State Police toopers said she smelled of alcohol. In December 2025, Vekos pleaded no contest to the charge and had her law license temporarily suspended as part of the investigation.Vekos is currently on probation, and is prohibited from consuming alcohol with working peers. Last week, the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs called for Vekos to resign.According to the Tuesday letter, the changes follow recent meetings between Attorney General Charity Clark and local officials, including Vermont State Police, the Addison County Sheriff’s Department and municipal police departments.”Those discussions made clear that we share the same core objective: ensuring that investigations and prosecutions in Addison County are handled effectively, professionally, and in a manner that serves the interests of justice,” Domenica Padula, chief of the attorney general’s criminal division, wrote in the letter.Under the new approach, state officials will work with the Addison County Unit for Special Investigations and the Addison Child Advocacy Center to handle sexual assault and child abuse cases. The office will also oversee all homicide investigations and prosecutions in the county, as well as manage death reviews and notifications. The new policy applies only to cases initiated on or after March 17 and will not affect ongoing investigations, officials said.Veko’s case will be heard by the Vermont Supreme Court on Thursday.
The Vermont Attorney General’s Office will take on a larger role in prosecuting serious crimes in Addison County as state’s attorney Eva Vekos faces pressure to resign.
The news was first reported by news outlet VTDigger.
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In a March 17 letter to local law enforcement and advocacy groups, the office outlined plans to increase its involvement in investigations and prosecutions involving vulnerable victims, including sexual assault, child abuse and homicide cases.
The directive follows years of controversy surrounding Vekos, who would ordinarily be assigned cases of that nature, stemming from a January 2024 DUI charge.
Vekos had driven to the scene of a homicide in Bridport where Vermont State Police toopers said she smelled of alcohol. In December 2025, Vekos pleaded no contest to the charge and had her law license temporarily suspended as part of the investigation.
Vekos is currently on probation, and is prohibited from consuming alcohol with working peers. Last week, the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs called for Vekos to resign.
According to the Tuesday letter, the changes follow recent meetings between Attorney General Charity Clark and local officials, including Vermont State Police, the Addison County Sheriff’s Department and municipal police departments.
“Those discussions made clear that we share the same core objective: ensuring that investigations and prosecutions in Addison County are handled effectively, professionally, and in a manner that serves the interests of justice,” Domenica Padula, chief of the attorney general’s criminal division, wrote in the letter.
Under the new approach, state officials will work with the Addison County Unit for Special Investigations and the Addison Child Advocacy Center to handle sexual assault and child abuse cases.
The office will also oversee all homicide investigations and prosecutions in the county, as well as manage death reviews and notifications.
The new policy applies only to cases initiated on or after March 17 and will not affect ongoing investigations, officials said.
Veko’s case will be heard by the Vermont Supreme Court on Thursday.
