Vernon Police assist in Wyoming murder investigation
By Steve Smith - Staff Writer
Vernon - posted Thu., Dec. 6, 2012
An apparently-disturbed Vernon resident made national headlines on Nov. 30 when he attacked and killed his own father, James Krumm, and his girlfriend, Heidi Arnold, on the Casper College campus in Wyoming. Christopher Krumm allegedly stabbed Arnold to death at the home she shared with James, before proceeding to the college and shooting his father in the head with a bow and arrow, according to police reports.
The elder Krumm had managed to wrestle his son to the ground, enabling the students in his computer science class to escape, before succumbing to his wounds. Christopher Krumm then fatally stabbed himself.
Vernon police were contacted by police in Casper, and executed a search of Krumm's single-room apartment at 24 Grove St., unit 32. As a precaution, the Hartford Police Bomb Squad assisted with the search. No hazardous devices were found.
Lt. William Meier explained at a press conference on Dec. 3 that papers, a computer printer and other items requested by Wyoming authorities were seized and were still being examined. Meier said that no firearms were found in the search.
Krumm had, however, applied for a pistol permit at the Vernon Police Department on Oct. 17. Krumm was fingerprinted at the time of the application's submission, and the application – which normally takes approximately eight weeks – was still pending at the time of the incident.
Reports indicate that Krumm had been suffering from Asperger's Syndrome, for which he blamed his father. Asperger's is an Autism Spectrum Disorder and the cause is unknown, but research suggests a genetic basis.
Meier said the background check on Krumm – a standard part of the pistol application process – had not yet been completed. Police Chief James Kenny said the permit process does not include a screening of a condition such as Asperger's, and that condition, in and of itself, would not have precluded Krumm from receiving a permit.
Meier added that the Vernon Police Department was still working with the authorities in Wyoming and the investigation was ongoing.
