Vermont State Police arrested four suspects in St. Johnsbury on Tuesday in connection with the Hastings Hill murder

Vermont State Police arrested four suspects in St. Johnsbury on Tuesday in connection with the Hastings Hill murder of Israel Jimenez Lugo. Troopers converged on 1658 Main Street Tuesday afternoon and arrested Raphael Rodriguez, 34, of St. Johnsbury, Brittany Clark, 33, of St. Johnsbury, Natasha Cady, 29, of Barton and Michael Ringuette, 55, of St. Johnsbury.  Rodriguez is being charged with first-degree murder, assault and robbery, and burglary of an occupied dwelling while armed. State police were assisted by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations during the arrests. According to court papers prepared by investigators, the four suspects are alleged to have been involved in buying and selling illegal drugs and participated in a plan to rob Jimenez Lugo. During the commission of the robbery, which took place overnight Dec. 13-14, 2022, Rodriguez fatally shot Jimenez Lugo, said police. Rodriguez and Ringuette were ordered held without bail, and Cady and Clark for lack of $50,000 bail pending arraignment hearings in Caledonia Superior Court. Lugo, 49, was from Springfield, Mass. On Dec. 14, Lugo was found shot to death in the apartment that had been leased to Darlene Gilchrist, 34. The Vermont State Police worked closely on this investigation with Caledonia County State’s Attorney’s Office. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Police continue to request that anyone with information that could assist detectives call the Vermont State Police in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111 or provide an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.