Bennington manhunt suspect in attempted murder case takes plea
BENNINGTON — The suspect of a days-long manhunt in Bennington stemming from an alleged violent attempted murder in 2023 pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault and robbery Wednesday in Bennington.
In September 2023, Zachary Dumas, 38, was charged with two felony counts — attempted murder and assault and robbery — stemming from an incident at the Applegate Apartments on the evening of Sept. 7. Dumas allegedly attempted to murder his then-girlfriend by strangling her from behind and then robbing her backpack containing cash, debit cards, her ID, social security card and birth certificate. Dumas fled the scene before police arrived, leading to an arrest warrant and kicking off an intense, multi-day manhunt in and around Bennington.
Dumas was eventually nabbed while hiding out in a known drug residence in Bennington. He was later charged with a third count, aggravated assault, and all charges were upgraded to habitual offender status due to Dumas's past conviction on several felonies. He was scheduled to stand trial for two days starting Wednesday morning.
That never happened.
On Wednesday morning, before the chosen and seated jury had entered the courtroom, Dumas agreed to plead guilty to one count of assault and robbery. Prosecutors asked for a 3-20-year to-serve prison sentence. The defense requested a contested sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. Dumas was then returned to the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Center in Rutland to await his fate. Dumas has been in custody since his arrest on Sept. 18 after an intense manhunt ended 10 days after a warrant for his arrest was issued.
The Bennington Police Department, with the assistance of several other law enforcement agencies, tracked down and arrested Dumas on Sept. 17 at approximately 6:45 p.m. after receiving a tip on his whereabouts. Officers observed Dumas in a Bennington residence and surrounded the property. Dumas became aware of the police presence at the home, exited a window on the second story, and was on the roof for some time. Dumas retreated into the residence when he realized law enforcement officers surrounded him.
At approximately 8:48 p.m., a group of Bennington Police officers in flak vests and helmets and a Winhall K-9 unit rushed the building, knocking in a barricaded side door to gain entrance.
Three minutes later, police could be heard yelling for Dumas to get on the ground. Dumas was escorted out of the front door in handcuffs and placed in a Bennington Police squad car.
Dumas' location was unknown until Sept. 14 at about 1:30 p.m., when Bennington Police received a tip that he was spotted at 303 Pleasant St.
Dumas eluded arrest when police responded there by diving onto the second-story rooftop and jumping from it. He was tracked to the Booth Terrace area and later spotted in the area of Middle Pownal Road, but was able to escape, with authorities calling off the search for him at 10:30 p.m. that evening. He was at large until the arrest on Sept. 17.
Dumas was facing a possible life sentence if convicted of the attempted murder charge. He faced two other life sentences on the other counts as a habitual offender.
Dumas has a long criminal history in Vermont, with both misdemeanors and felonies, including drug possession charges, assault, violations of abuse prevention orders, unlawful trespass, retail theft, violation of conditions of release, domestic assault, obstructing justice, and petty larceny. Before the latest incident, Dumas had been put on furlough in the larceny case. Since his alleged crimes violated his furlough, he still faced the possibility of further charges and a new sentence on those crimes for which he was on furlough.
The attempted murder, aggravated assault, and assault and robbery charges stemmed from a September incident where he allegedly came over to the victim's house looking for money to buy crack. When the victim refused, Dumas barred the doorway with his bicycle and ran up a flight of stairs, putting an arm around the victim's neck from behind. The victim lost consciousness and, when she awoke, allegedly witnessed Dumas grabbing her backpack and fleeing. The whole incident was caught on video.
There are currently no scheduled sentencing hearings for Zachary Dumas in any court schedules. The Banner will update this story as more information becomes available.
