Former Enfield Resident And His Mother Shot To Death In Vermont

WHITINGHAM, VT — A 52-year-old man who was found shot to death inside his Vermont home last week, along with his 79-year-old mother, had formerly been an Enfield resident who graduated from Enrico Fermi High School in 1990.

The bodies of Michael and Lucy Garvin were discovered inside the home they shared in Whitingham, on Route 8A near Brattleboro on the Massachusetts state line. A relative who had been unable to contact the Garvins found the bodies around 10 p.m. Friday, according to a police report.

Michael Garvin's 2001 Dodge Ram pickup truck was reported missing, but was located during a traffic stop Friday night by Brattleboro police. The truck was being driven by Christopher Ellis, 54, who had been living with the Garvins since April, according to a warrant.

Ellis, who has a lengthy felony conviction record dating to `1989, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and an additional charge of operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. He was ordered jailed without bail, and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday in Windham County Superior Court, according to police.

He told police he killed the mother and son Wednesday or Thursday, after contemplating killing Michael Garvin for several weeks, according to an affidavit supporting his arrest.

"Ellis advised he first shot Michael twice, while he was in the area of the couch in the living room. Ellis then shot Lucy one time while she was in the bathroom. Ellis explained he returned to Michael and shot him additional times, until the firearm was empty," according to the affidavit.

After shooting the pair, Ellis said he left in Michael Garvin’s truck to buy crack cocaine. He then went to Holyoke, Mass., where he sold the gun for $150 and bought cocaine with the money, according to the affidavit.

It is unclear when Ellis is due to return to court.