No Charges Filed in Fatal St. Johnsbury Home Assault: Investigation Concludes
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. — Vermont State Police announced this week that no charges will be filed following a tragic incident in July, where a home invasion led to the deaths of two individuals. On July 7, 42-year-old Nicholas Johnson broke into a cottage at Cottage Street, attacking his ex-partner Jennifer Bradley, her husband Patrick Mayhew, and her adult son, Ben Lyons.
Johnson, who was homeless at the time, inflicted serious wounds on Mayhew and fatally stabbed Lyons, who was just 21. In a self-defense response, Mayhew shot Johnson, while also sustaining serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Bradley incurred minor injuries and was not hospitalized. During the attack, two minors present in the home were uninjured, but the family’s dog, Wilson, died from injuries sustained during the incident.
Following a detailed investigation, the Caledonia County State’s Attorney’s Office decided not to pursue charges, considering the case closed. Reflecting on that day, Bradley and Mayhew shared their account, describing how an ordinary morning quickly devolved into chaos when Johnson confronted Mayhew about belongings he never had at their home. The struggle escalated violently, leading to Mayhew’s decisive action to stop Johnson.
The family expressed their grief over the loss of Lyons, who aspired to be a music producer, and have raised concerns about Vermont’s lack of a "Stand Your Ground" law. They believe such legislation could have expedited the legal outcomes in their case. "People assume self-defense is assured, but that’s not how it works in Vermont," they noted, emphasizing the complexities of self-defense laws in the state.
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