STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE
Vermont State Police identifies man whose body was found in South Hero
SOUTH HERO, Vermont (Monday, April 21, 2025) — The Vermont State Police is continuing to investigate the discovery of a man's body Sunday afternoon in South Hero.
Following autopsy, the deceased individual has been positively identified as Silas W. Smith, 39, who lived most recently in the area of Plattsburgh, New York. The Chief Medical Examiner's Office currently lists the cause and manner of Mr. Smith's death as pending further investigation and testing, including toxicology.
To this point in the investigation, the state police has uncovered no evidence to indicate the death is suspicious.
VSP asks that anyone who might have seen Mr. Smith from Saturday into Sunday in the Lake Champlain Islands, especially in South Hero, call the St. Albans Barracks at 802-524-5993. A photograph of Mr. Smith is attached to this release.
The state police will continue to provide updates as the investigation continues.
***Initial news release, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 20, 2025***
The Vermont State Police is investigating after a man's body was found Sunday afternoon, April 20, 2025, in South Hero.
The investigation began shortly after noon when police received a report from a homeowner that a body was seen floating in Lake Champlain off Kibbe Point. First responders were able to recover the body from the water.
The identify of the deceased man and the circumstances surrounding his death are unknown. The victim will be brought to the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington for an autopsy to determine cause and manner of death and to assist investigators with making positive identification.
This investigation is in its initial stages and involves members of the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Field Force Division and Victim Services Unit. The Grand Isle County Sheriff's Department and Grand Isle County State's Attorney Doug DiSabito are providing assistance. First responders to Kibbe Point included fire departments from Alburgh, Grand Isle, North Hero and South Hero; South Hero Rescue; and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Anyone with information that might be relevant to this investigation is asked to call the Vermont State Police in St. Albans at 802-524-5993 or submit an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
No further information is currently available. The state police will provide updates as the investigation unfolds.
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