[S]ecurity was stepped up at state offices in Barre after the daughter of a woman accused of killing a social worker and three others in central Vermont went missing from Department of Corrections supervision just days before the anniversary of the shootings.
A Corrections official confirmed Wednesday that Desiree Herring went missing while on furlough status. She had been released July 28 after serving more than four months in prison after pleading guilty to a charge related to stealing and cashing a check.
According to the Barre City Police Department, the Corrections Department discovered that Herring was not where she was expected to be Sunday. The Police Department was notified Tuesday afternoon that she is now on escape status from furlough.
Herring’s mother, Jodi Herring, is accused of killing three members of her family and social worker Lara Sobel on Aug. 7, 2015. Sobel was gunned down as she walked to her car behind the offices at Barre City Place downtown. She has pleaded not guilty.
Dawn O’Toole, chief operations officer of the Agency of Human Services, sent an email to all agency employees Wednesday morning notifying them of Desiree Herring’s disappearance and that security at the Barre offices would be increased until she is back in state custody.
O’Toole said in an interview that the additional security “is simply a precaution.”
“We are not aware of any kind of threat,” O’Toole said.
With the anniversary of the shootings approaching, the event is very much on state employees’ minds, she said. O’Toole also emphasized the importance of warning employees so they can be aware.
“Given the way the world has changed, we all need to be more safety aware,” O’Toole said. “We should pay attention to our surroundings and pay attention to things that look different.”
Wednesday afternoon a sheriff’s car idled in the parking lot behind the Barre City Place office building. Employees trickled in and out of the building.
One woman, who said she works for the Agency of Education, was not concerned about Desiree Herring’s disappearance and the move to increase security.
“It was a targeted attack,” she said of Sobel’s killing. “It’s not like it was for me.”
Dale Crook, director of field services for the DOC, confirmed Wednesday that the department was unable to find Herring and that she is on furlough. He wouldn’t provide specific details about her case, citing department policy not to speak about individual cases.
Desiree Herring’s minimum release date was July 11. She came out of prison on furlough status, a form of supervision that is managed through the Corrections Department as opposed to the courts.
Furlough typically comes with a series of restrictions, including a prohibition on using drugs, a curfew and mandatory programming requirements.
Desiree Herring has a lengthy record of low-level and nonviolent offenses.
Barre City Police Chief Tim Bombardier said Wednesday that officers with the department are looking for her and a detective is working on the case.
Washington County State’s Attorney Scott Williams said his office has filed a request for an arrest warrant with the court.
