‘Please Rot in Hell’: Grafton Man, Joshua Fowler, Sentenced, for Killing Wife, Father and Grandmother in Triple Murder

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Nearly eight months after a triple shooting ripped apart a Grafton family, Joshua Fowler, 26, was sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for the killings of his wife, Whitney Fowler, 27; his father, Wilson Fowler, 55; and his grandmother, Anita Crandall, 69. 

According to CBS Albany, he had pleaded guilty in November to three counts of second-degree murder in a deal that spared him life without parole.

Whitney Fowler 



On the evening of June 18, 2025, Whitney Fowler dialed 911 from the family home at 385 South Road in Cropseyville, in Grafton. She told dispatchers there was an ongoing altercation with her husband and his father, grandmother and herself. 

However while she was still on the phone, the dispatchers heard gunshots, as per Times Union

When State Police and Rensselaer County sheriff’s deputies arrived minutes later, they found Whitney Fowler dead outside the home. 

Inside, investigators discovered the bodies of Wilson Fowler and Anita Crandall, and tragically, all three had been shot.

According to police reports, Joshua Fowler then walked out of the home carrying the rifle, and when troopers ordered him to drop the weapon, he refused. 

Officials later said Fowler appeared to be attempting “suicide by cop” so they had to use a stun gun before they could take him into custody. 

The rifle used in the shooting was legally owned by his father, Wilson Fowler, and before this tragedy, the Fowler home was no stranger to police. 

State Police confirmed they responded to the residence twice before the murders — once in July 2018 for an incident involving Joshua and Wilson Fowler, and again in October 2021 for a domestic incident involving Joshua and Whitney Fowler. 

Rensselaer County Sheriff’s deputies also responded to a call in 2020 but despite these red flags, none of those calls resulted in arrests.

Wayne Lundgren, Whitney’s father, said his daughter had hinted at abuse — both mental and physical — but rarely went into detail. Looking back, he said, there were signs that should have triggered a stronger response.

“There should’ve been more,” Lundgren said. “It shouldn’t have just been one of those things where, ‘Okay, we’re going to arrive to a scene and try to take care of a problem and defuse it.’ There should have been maybe something in their head that said, ‘You know what — she needs help, or he needs help.’”

Whitney Fowler had recently graduated and was pursuing a career in nursing. Friends and family described her as someone who put others before herself.

“She was a fun-loving person, always trying to stay positive, always trying to help people when she could,” Lundgren said. “She just wanted the best for herself, best for other people. She wanted to be happy. She wanted to be loved.”

Anita Crandall, 69, was known for her lasagna and her love of pinochle. Wilson Fowler, 55, was remembered as a “jack of all trades” who could fix anything and was devoted to his beagles, Spunky and Dixie.




Joshua Fowler


Rensselaer County Judge Jennifer Sober, who presided over the case, called it one of the most disturbing she had seen in decades, while District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly commended the family for their composure and courage.

“They showed bravery that I can’t comprehend,” Donnelly said. “And it sends an important message that Whitney, Wilson and Anita will not be forgotten.”

More than a dozen family members filled the gallery during jis sentencing in February 2026, but Fowler did not look at them, as per news reports. 

Whitney’s mother, Christina Hallenbeck, fought tears as she addressed the court.

“There are no words that can truly describe what this loss has done to me,” she said. “Whitney was only 27, full of life and energy. Every future moment we should’ve had was taken away. My heart will never be whole again.”

Whitney’s sister, Autumn Dubois, spoke directly to her late sibling.

“Whitney, if you’re listening, I will love you forever, and I’m so sorry I never got to tell you again."

Fowler sat expressionless throughout the sentencing and when offered a chance to speak, he declined.

Fowler was later transported to state prison to begin his sentence and he will not be eligible for parole until he is 71 years old.

For the family, Fowler’s guilty plea brought no closure but only a sentence.

“Only thing I can say without using profanity is please rot in hell, please live the rest of your life in misery, and please have a very painful death,” Whitney’s father, Wayne Lundgren, said in court, his voice steady as he stared at the man who once married his daughter.

Joshua Fowler’s mother, Eleanor Crandall, had earlier told reporters that her son struggles with mental health issues and had allegedly refused to seek help. 

She even said she feared he would take someone’s life if he didn’t get treatment, according to Lipstick Alley.

“To me, my son died that night too,” Crandall said. “I hate him,” she added. “And that’s a very strong word in my vocabulary. I don’t use that word unless I truly have to.”


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