Former Vermont School Superintendent and Husband Plead Not Guilty in Teen’s Fatal Crash Case
Vermont Couple Faces Felony Charges Tied to Underage Drinking Party
A former school superintendent from Rutland County and her husband have entered not guilty pleas to felony charges alleging they furnished alcohol to a teenager who subsequently died in a single-vehicle crash in November 2024.
Kristin Hubert, 48, and John-Henry Hubert, 55, were arraigned in separate hearings Monday at Rutland County Superior Criminal Court. Each faces a single felony count of enabling underage drinking. Judge Cortland Corsones released both defendants without bail following their pleas.
What Happened
Vermont State Police were called to Cold River Road in the town of Shrewsbury in the early morning hours of November 10, 2024, after a vehicle struck a guardrail and a tree. The driver, Macy Piersiak, 17, of Needham, Massachusetts, was pronounced dead at the scene. She had been the sole occupant of the car.
Authorities alleged that Piersiak had attended a party at the Huberts’ Rutland City home that evening before the crash. Court documents show she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.179 at the time — more than twice Vermont’s legal driving limit.
A police affidavit filed by Vermont State Police Trooper Ryan Gardner described how investigators used phone records, GPS data, and social media information to reconstruct Piersiak’s movements leading up to the crash. According to the affidavit, she had been among several friends of the Huberts’ daughter gathered at the home that night.
One party attendee told police that Piersiak purchased alcohol using a fake identification and a credit card belonging to John-Henry Hubert, which had been shared by the couple’s daughter. The affidavit also noted that one witness reported such gatherings took place regularly at the residence. Investigators said photos showed the Huberts appearing to drink alcohol alongside underage girls, including an image taken roughly a month before the fatal crash.
The Huberts told police they ended the party after discovering the girls had been drinking.
Grand Jury Indictment
A grand jury returned indictments against the couple earlier this month, marking what Rutland County State’s Attorney Ian Sullivan described as the first grand jury indictment his office has pursued since he took office in 2022. Sullivan noted Monday that secrecy rules prevented him from discussing the specifics of the grand jury process.
Grand jury proceedings are relatively uncommon in Vermont, where their use tends to be reserved for high-profile or legally complex matters, unlike in federal courts or many other states where grand juries are used more routinely. Sullivan said, speaking generally, that grand juries allow prosecutors to gather testimony and evidence through tools such as subpoenas.
Defense and Family Statements
Attorney Matthew Hart, who is representing both defendants, issued a written statement following the hearings. “From the very beginning, the Huberts have recognized the seriousness of this loss and the unimaginable pain experienced by Macy’s family,” the statement said, adding that an indictment represents an allegation rather than a finding of guilt and that the defense has not yet had the opportunity to challenge the evidence.
Members of Piersiak’s family attended both arraignments Monday. Her aunt, Joanne Toran McHugh, said outside the courthouse that she hoped the proceedings would reveal the full truth of what happened. McHugh described her niece as warm, family-oriented, and deeply caring. Piersiak had attended Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire and had plans to pursue a career in nursing.
Background on Kristin Hubert
Kristin Hubert served as superintendent of the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union from 2022 until her resignation in July 2024, several months before Piersiak’s death. The circumstances of her departure from the role have not been publicly linked to the criminal case.
If convicted, each defendant could face up to five years in prison. The case is expected to proceed to further pretrial hearings in Rutland County Superior Court.
For more Vermont news, see coverage of reading reforms being implemented in Vermont elementary schools and Green Mountain Transit’s review of bus service in Essex.