Investigation resolves report involving Fayston student and motorist
January 27, 2026 | By Lisa ScagliottiUpdate Jan. 29: Vermont State Police have followed up with an additional message that the motorist in this case was identified and the circumstances turned out not to be of serious concern.
“Further investigation revealed that there was no evidence of any criminal intentions,” Trooper Alexis Marciniak said. “Thank you to everyone who submitted tips regarding this incident.”
The original post is below.
Fayston school alerts families to suspicious incident with student and motorist
Update: This post was updated with details from Vermont State Police shortly after 3 p.m. on Jan. 27.
Harwood school officials have alerted families of students at Fayston Elementary School about a suspicious incident this morning involving a student walking to school and a motorist on German Flats Road in Fayston.
A noon email message shares a description of the incident, which has been reported to the Vermont State Police, who are investigating, school officials said.
This is the account they shared: “A student shared that while walking to school this morning, a woman driving a blue vehicle with Vermont license plates pulled over, stopped the vehicle, called out to him to get into her car, exited, and put her hands on him. The student was able to pull away and immediately continued to school, where he reported the incident directly to Principal Justina Boyden. We are very proud of him for responding quickly and appropriately.”
Schools in the Harwood Unified Union School District opened after a two-hour morning delay due to weather and road conditions. The student involved was walking to Fayston Elementary, which serves students from preschool through sixth grade.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trooper Alexis Marciniak offered more details in a news release saying that the incident happened between 9:35 and 9:45 a.m. The woman was estimated to be in her 50s, had dyed orange hair pulled back into a bun, and was wearing blue clothing, according to the police press release.
The driver was in a blue sedan, possibly a Toyota Camry or a Toyota Prius, with unknown Vermont license plates, police said, adding that the vehicle was likely headed south on German Flats Road after this incident.
The location of the incident was between the school and the intersection with Mount Ellen Road, officials said.
Principal Boyden and Superintendent Mike Leichliter have asked staff to remain vigilant, and their communication asks parents to review with their children how to respond to situations involving strangers. “Remind them not to approach unknown individuals or vehicles and to report anything that makes them uncomfortable to a trusted adult immediately,” the message states.
Anyone with information that might assist investigators in this case should contact troopers at the Berlin barracks at 802-229-9191. Anonymous tips also may be shared via text message or using an online form, find those details here.
School-related questions may be directed to Fayston Principal Justina Boyden at 802-496-3636 or by email to jboyden@huusd.org.