Trigger Warning: This article contains descriptions of anti-trans violence, including the murder of a transgender woman, references to a “trans panic” legal defense, and graphic testimony from a criminal trial. It may be distressing to some readers, especially those in the transgender community or those impacted by violence. Please take care while reading.
The long-awaited trial of Seth Brunell, the man accused of fatally stabbing 29-year-old transgender woman Fern Feather in April 2022, began Tuesday in Lamoille County Court with emotional testimony and chilling evidence.
Prosecutors allege that Brunell, 43, used deadly force against Feather without justification and that his claims of self-defense are unsupported by the facts. Jurors heard opening statements from the prosecution and testimony from eight witnesses, including the woman who made the initial 911 call and several responding officers.
Feather, who lived in Hinesburg, was described by friends and family as a radiant, loving, and deeply empathetic person. “Fern was one of the most brilliant, colorful, loving, special, super special people that you would ever meet,” said longtime friend Nina Shoenthal in an interview with Vermont Public Radio. “Everyone loved her. Everyone wanted to be close with her.”
According to investigators, Feather had picked up Brunell, a barefoot hitchhiker just released from a mental health facility, and had been helping him in the days leading up to her death. On the morning of April 12, 2022, the pair were seen in a Morristown parking lot and were approached by police. They explained they were looking for a place to walk their dogs.
Later that day, Feather’s body was discovered on the side of a road by passerby Karen Cleary. Cleary testified that Brunell was on the phone when she arrived, speaking with Fern’s friend, Eliza Curtis. When Cleary realized Brunell had not called 911, she took the phone and Curtis urged her to contact authorities.
Curtis testified that during that phone call, Brunell admitted to killing Feather but offered no details. “He told me that he had killed Fern,” she said. “He did not say how.”
When police arrived, they found Feather dead with visible injuries and a 12-inch bloody knife nearby. Officers testified that significant blood was found at the scene, but that Brunell himself showed no signs of injury. Morristown Police Chief Jason Luneau and Patrol Officer Lance Lamb were among six law enforcement officers who described the physical evidence, including blood patterns and the position of Feather’s body.
In interviews with police, Brunell claimed that Feather had “come on to me and was going crazy,” and alleged that she attacked him. He told officers, “I was just defending myself.” However, police noted in court documents that there were no signs of a struggle or any injuries on Brunell to support his claim.
Assistant Attorney Sophie Stratton urged the jury to closely examine Brunell’s statements. “Listen to the details of the account and ask yourself if it makes sense,” she said.
Feather’s death rocked the Vermont LGBTQ+ community and drew national attention as another case involving a so-called “trans panic” defense—a legal strategy that seeks to justify violence against transgender individuals by blaming the victim’s identity or behavior.
The prosecution is expected to continue its case through Wednesday, with the defense preparing to call blood pattern experts and additional law enforcement witnesses later in the week. The trial is expected to conclude by early next week.
Feather’s legacy lives on in the memories of her friends, who recall her as a fierce lover of animals, nature, and people. “Fern liked to kind of notice the things about people that would make that person feel beautiful,” said former colleague Suzanne Podhaizer.
As the trial unfolds, advocates and allies remain focused on justice—not just for Fern Feather, but for every trans person whose life and dignity deserve protection.
