Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says a woman who lost custody of her 9-year-old daughter is "the alleged perpetrator" in the deaths of three relatives.
Forty-year-old Jody Herring is also accused in a criminal charge of then heading to a nearby state office and gunning down the social worker involved in the custody case.
Shumlin assured state workers and families at a news conference Saturday with law enforcement officials after Herring's arrest that any threat to others was over and that the care of Vermont's "most vulnerable children" remains a priority.
Herring was arrested on a murder charge in Lara Sobel's death and is to be arraigned Monday. It wasn't clear if she has a lawyer. Prosecutors say it's too early in the investigation to comment on any additional charges.
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