Family Law

Slaying of social worker prompts state to move office to courthouse

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The slaying of a Vermont social worker earlier this year, along with three relatives of a suspect accused of shooting all four victims to death over a child-custody dispute, has prompted the state to move all of the social worker’s colleagues to a safer location.

The social workers will now be housed in a courthouse near the Barre office where Lara Sobel was fatally shot, to enhance the security of their workplace, the Associated Press reports.

The three other victims were shot around the same time, but in a different location. Jody Herring, who was initially charged with murder only in the death of Sobel, now faces three other murder charges as well.

She has pleaded not guilty.

An earlier Burlington Free Press story details the evidence against Herring, who is accused of compiling a “hit list” and killing all four victims because she was unhappy about losing custody of her 9-year-old daughter. Sobel was involved in the case.

Related coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “Midnight motion wins almost immediate court order allowing public defender to see client”

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