After trailer park search, state police seek public’s help in locating assault suspect
January 5, 2026 | By Lisa ScagliottiUpdate Jan. 7: Vermont State Police shared an update in this case: On Tuesday, Jan. 6, troopers were notified that Tristan Dunster turned himself in to the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Barre without incident. Dunster was ordered held without bail pending further court proceedings. According to the Department of Corrections website, Dunster is being held at the Northeast Correctional Complex in St. Johnsbury.
A number of Vermont State Police troopers on Monday searched at and near Kneeland Flats Trailer Park in Waterbury for a Duxbury man wanted in connection with a first-degree aggravated assault that took place on Dec. 29. The search was unsuccessful, and troopers now are seeking the public’s help in locating the man.
Tristan ‘TJ’ Dunster, 40, of Duxbury. Photo courtesy of Vermont State Police
According to a news release from Troopers Mae Murdock and Alyssa Nozka, state police at approximately 2:30 p.m. today responded to the trailer park after receiving several tips from community members that Tristan “TJ” Dunster, 40, of Duxbury, was staying at residences in the neighborhood.
Dunster has an active arrest warrant for first-degree aggravated domestic assault, burglary, criminal threatening, and violation of conditions of release stemming from an incident on Dec. 29, according to police. In that incident, Dunster is accused of assaulting a former romantic partner, police said. At the time of that assault, Dunster had court-imposed conditions of release prohibiting him from acting in a violent manner; he also has two previous convictions of domestic assault, according to police.
Dunster was not located following the original Dec. 29 incident, after which an arrest warrant was issued, with bail set at $50,000, police said.
Monday’s tip resulted in a large police presence at the trailer park but troopers did not locate Dunster, police said.
Vermont State Police now are asking the public for help in locating Dunster, and they shared a photo with their news release regarding this incident. He is described as approximately 6-feet, 1 inch tall, weighing approximately 220 pounds, with partially gray hair.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Berlin state police barracks at 802-229-9191. Anonymous tips may be made online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.