

Death of Winooski mother ruled homicide one month later

Elizabeth Murray
Burlington Free Press
Winooski police say they already follow several sanctuary-city-type policies, such as not asking about immigration status and not enforcing federal immigration law.

The death of a young mother in Winooski has been ruled a homicide more than a month after she was found dead in her home, according to her death certificate. 

The cause and manner of death for Hannah Keyes, 28, had been under investigation since early November. Authorities have said there were no physical signs at the scene of why she may have died.

The Chief Medical Examiner's Office determined that Keyes died from compression to her neck and chest when she was assaulted by another person, her death certificate shows. 

Keyes' body had been found by police on Nov. 2 during a welfare check requested by her employer after she failed to show up for work, Chief Rick Hebert told the Free Press in early November.

Winooski police believe Keyes, her two children and her fiance, Keith Gaston, were the only people in the house at the time of her death. 

About a week later, Winooski police announced that Gaston — the only person of interest in the case  — was presumed dead. Police had found video surveillance in Winooski showing Gaston on Nov. 1 parking his car in front of the Woolen Mill Apartments, and minutes later, jumping head-first into the Winooski River. 

Police said the video did not show Gaston resurface. The river was elevated that day due to a storm that had come through Vermont, and authorities determined that Gaston was likely dead due to the strength and depth of the water at the time. Gaston's body has not been recovered.

"The water was so high and powerful the day after Halloween that we fear he was probably swept into the lake," Hebert said, referring to Lake Champlain. "We don't foresee being able to recover his body anytime soon."

Gaston remains the only person of interest in the case. Police have found no reason to believe anyone else was involved, Hebert said. There is also no ongoing threat to public safety.
