STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

NEWS RELEASE

Involuntary Manslaughter

 

CASE#: 23B2000630

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Det. Sgt. Aimee Nolan

STATION: VSP Royalton – Bureau of Criminal Investigations                                       

CONTACT#: 802-229-9191

 

DATE/TIME: February 6, 2023 at 11:44 p.m.

STREET: Intersection of Kingsbury Road/Route 14

TOWN: Royalton, Vermont

 

ACCUSED:  Jody L. White

AGE:  54

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE:  Bethel, Vermont

 

VICTIM:  Crystal Porter

AGE: 45

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Royalton, Vermont

 

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

 

After a months-long investigation, the Vermont State Police has cited a man on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the February death of a Royalton woman.

 

The case began at about 11:44 p.m. Feb. 6, 2023, when Vermont 9-1-1 received a call from Jody L. White, 54, of Bethel, Vermont, advising that Crystal Porter, 45, of Royalton was unresponsive in the front seat of his truck, and he had pulled over on Route 14 at the intersection with Kingsbury Road. 

 

Personnel from the White River Valley Ambulance Service responded and attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful, and Porter was pronounced deceased.  Members of the Vermont State Police Field Force and Criminal divisions responded to the scene and began an investigation, along with a medicolegal death investigator with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

 

Porter’s death was ruled an accidental overdose.  The investigation ultimately showed that White found Porter unresponsive in the bathroom of his residence at about 10:30 p.m. but failed to provide medical assistance to Porter or call for assistance for over an hour.

 

The Vermont State Police worked closely on this investigation with the Orange County State’s Attorney’s Office. On Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, police issued White a citation to appear in Orange County Superior Court – Criminal Division on 11/22/2023 at 0830 hours.

 

COURT ACTION: Y

COURT DATE/TIME: 11/22/2023        

COURT: Orange Superior Court – Criminal Division

MUG SHOT: Not available at this time

 

*Please note:  court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of

the court. Please call the criminal court clerk to confirm arraignment time.