Hundreds gathered in Barre, Vermont Sunday afternoon to remember the Department of Children and Families worker shot and killed Friday as she left work. As WAMC’s Pat Bradley reports, that was one of four killings that appear to be related in a case that has stunned Vermont.
Police say 48-year-old Lara Sobel was shot and killed in the parking lot of her workplace by 40-year-old Jody Herring. Sobel handled the case in which Herring lost custody of her 9-year-old daughter.
The killing has shaken the Barre community and the state workforce. More than 300 people assembled at the Old Labor Hall in Barre on Sunday to pay tribute to Sobel’s life. It began with a psalm offered by members of her congregation. “The Lord is my Shepard. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.”
State Senator Anthony Pollina was asked to lead off the comments. “When we lose someone particularly suddenly we think about the things that we forgot to say or do. The hugs that we didn’t give. The words of appreciation that we didn’t say. Lara Sobel did all she possibly could every day of her life. She gave everything she had. Let’s keep her in our hearts and let’s thank Lara Sobel for her dedication, her courage and her love. We will miss you but we will not forget you.”
“Hi my name is Beth. I worked with Lara in the way-back. The thing that always struck me about her is that she was nice, kind, cared about people and she remembered the F in DCF. She took care of families and so it’s terribly, horribly ironic that it was a family member that ended her life because she really got the whole picture in that you had to take care of everyone. I will miss her.”
Tyler Watkins met Sobel only twice as he attended physical therapy sessions in the building. “She took interest in the entire community. Not long after I started going there, to the physical therapy center, Lara saw me walking in and just said hi. The second time I saw her she knew my name but I didn’t know hers. She took interest in people, even people that she was just passing by. I’ve been by the site multiple times and I’ve seen people all coming together as a community and as a family. I think that says a lot about Lara.”
“My name is Joe Faryniarz. I am the cousin by marriage. Lara was a beautiful, beautiful individual and she really, really cared about her kids. This is a tragedy and her family is doing the best they can to deal with it. It’s just amazing how the community has pulled together all the people who even didn’t know her name, didn’t know anything about her. Thank you all for your support.”
Following the tributes everyone walked down North Main Street to Barre City Place where the state offices are located. In the back of the building at the parking lot where Sobel died, flowers, candles and other tributes were laid as First Presbyterian Church Pastor Carl Hilton-VanOsdall led the vigil. “We gather here with hearts that are broken. But we gather here as well with hope that indeed there can be a better world. That’s what Lara’s life was about.”
Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell says Herring was scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Monday in Barre.
Authorities say Herring also is the "alleged perpetrator" in the deaths of her two cousins and an aunt, who were found dead Saturday in a Berlin home. It was unclear if she will be charged in those cases.
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin has ordered the Vermont State flag to be flown at half staff at the State House and all Federal and State Facilities until sunset Wednesday to honor Sobel.
Update 2:15 p.m.:
Forty-year-old Jody Herring was ordered held without bail on Monday after pleading not guilty to first-degree murder. She allegedly shot Sobel as the social worker left the Department for Children and Families building. Herring then shot Sobel again while she was on the ground.
Court documents say Herring was calm and laughing after shooting. But she became agitated when police interviewed her Friday night, saying police never helped her when her boyfriend beat her and she complained about injustices done to her by DCF.
Police also believe Herring shot three of her family members to death. No charges have been filed yet in those shootings.
