Retired dean allegedly shot in the head while walking on rail trail in Vermont — suspect at large

A retired university dean was found shot to death on a rail trail on Thursday in Castleton, Vermont. She was married to Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Ron Powers.

Honoree Fleming, 77, was discovered on the trail with a gunshot wound to the head. The medical examiner who assessed the injury told the authorities that the manner of death was homicide, according to ABC News.

Fleming, who lived in the small community, was reportedly a retired Dean of Education and a much-loved teacher at Vermont State University Castleton Campus.

The university released a statement on Facebook, writing:

With deep sadness, we have learned that Honoree Fleming, Ph.D., 77, a retired Dean of Education at Castleton, was the victim of the homicide on the D&H Rail Trail in Castleton, a mile from the campus she called home. Honoree was a part of the Castleton family and was beloved by faculty, staff, and students.

Scores of students benefited from Dr. Fleming’s teachings and research. Before she joined Castleton, she was also a faculty member at Trinity College, Middlebury College, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Honoree lived in Castleton with her husband, Ron Powers, a Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author.

Our hearts go out to the members of our community who taught with Honoree and had her as a beloved teacher during their time at Castleton. Our deepest sympathies go to her husband, Ron, family, and friends. This is an unbelievable tragedy for the Castleton campus and for all of Vermont State University. Honoree will be deeply missed.

Fleming had moved around campuses throughout her career. She was a faculty member at Trinity College, Middlebury College, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, per the report.

Fleming's husband had reportedly won the Pulitzer Prize for writing criticism in 1973 about television in 1972 while a television and radio columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. He noted that his wife was fatally shot while she was walking "along her favorite trail near the college."

He wrote on Facebook that "I am still in shock," adding that "[t]hose of you who knew her know that she was beautifully named. I have never known a more sterling heart and soul than hers. She has taken far more than half my own heart and soul with her."

The Vermont authorities have not yet arrested a suspect in the case. It was reported that whoever carried out the attack is still armed and dangerous.

Vermont State Police released a statement about the incident, writing they were "requesting the public and businesses in the Castleton area to review their surveillance systems for a while male approximately 5'10", a short dark-colored shirt, last seen wearing a dark gray t-shirt carrying a black backpack."

The Vermont authorities requested surveillance footage from the early afternoon into the evening hours of October 5.

Vermont woman found dead along hiking trail, search for suspect underwaywww.youtube.com

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