VSP arrests suspect on murder charge arising from 2024 death of Bridport man

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 

Vermont State Police arrests suspect on murder charge arising from 2024 death of Bridport man 

BRIDPORT, Vermont (Monday, April 14, 2025) — The Vermont State Police has continued investigating the January 2024 death of Stephen Nuciolo Sr., 44, of Bridport. Recent developments over this past weekend led detectives on Monday, April 14, 2025, to arrest his son, Stephen Nuciolo Jr., 18, on a charge of second-degree murder. 

Nuciolo Jr. was arrested without incident Monday afternoon and brought to the New Haven Barracks for processing. He was ordered jailed Monday night without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Middlebury. 

The Vermont Attorney General's Office is handling this prosecution. 

No additional information is available at this time. The affidavit of probable cause will be filed with the court and made public following Nuciolo Jr.'s arraignment. Members of the media should call the court clerk's office to confirm details of the hearing. 

***Update No. 2, 2:50 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, 2024*** 

The Vermont State Police investigation into the death of 44-year-old Stephen Nuciolo Sr. remains active and ongoing. 

Investigators have been informed by the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. The manner of death is listed as pending further investigation. This includes toxicology testing, which can take a matter of weeks to months to complete. 

Anyone with information that could assist investigators in this case should call VSP's New Haven Barracks at 802-388-4919 or provide an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit. 

No further details are available at this time.  

***Update No. 1, 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, 2024*** 

The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington on Friday completed its physical examination of the body of Stephen Nuciolo Sr., 44, who was found deceased Wednesday morning inside his home in Bridport. The cause and manner of his death are listed as pending further investigation. 

The Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team processed the Swinton Road home overnight, and police have subsequently released the scene. 

Investigators continue to ask that anyone with information that is possibly relevant to this case contact the state police in New Haven at 802-388-4919, or leave an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.   

***Initial news release, 8:10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024*** 

The Vermont State Police is investigating a suspicious death in the Addison County town of Bridport. 

The victim is identified as Stephen Nuciolo Sr., 44, of Bridport. He was found deceased shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at his Swinton Road home by the Vermont State Police after troopers received a report that he had died in the residence overnight. Nuciolo's body was transported to the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington. Following an examination Thursday, Jan. 25, the medical examiner informed the state police that the death appears suspicious.  

This case is in its initial stages and involves members of the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Search Team, Field Force Division, and Victim Services Unit. 

Preliminary investigative work by the state police indicates this was an isolated event, and there is no known threat to the community. 

Detectives ask that anyone who might have information that could assist in this case call the Vermont State Police in New Haven at 802-388-4919. Tips also may be submitted anonymously online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.    

No other information is available at this time. The state police will provide updates as the investigation continues.