Vermont Man Accused in Bogus Bear Attack Seeking Dismissal

A Vermont man who told police he urged his girlfriend to jump off a cliff in a drug-induced haze because of an imagined bear attack is trying to get attempted murder charges against him dismissed.

Lucas Gingras appeared in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington on Monday.

Investigators say Gingras told 45-year-old Ladonna Merriman that bears were trying to get into the Georgia Mountain cabin where they were staying and that he convinced her to jump off a 70-foot cliff.

The defense says Merriman is no longer alive to testify and that Gingras wants the attempted murder charge thrown out. The 29-year-old Milton man has pleaded not guilty.

The judge will review the evidence and is expected to decide on dismissing the attempted murder charge by the end of the month.