Guilty Plea For Greenfield Man: Sentenced For 2024 Murder

Talk about a final ending to a sad tragedy.

Herberger-Brown, a Greenfield man, is heading to state prison after pleading guilty to killing a former Pittsfield resident, Christopher Hairston. Taaniel Herberger-Brown has been sentenced to 18 to 20 years in state prison in connection with Hairston's death in February 2024.

Christopher Hairston, who was 34 years old, was found dead inside Taaniel Herberger-Brown's apartment in Greenfield on April 22, 2024. His body had been in the apartment for almost two months before it was discovered.

Although 34-year-old Herberger-Brown was originally indicted for first-degree murder, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which is a lesser homicide offense. He also pleaded guilty to other charges, including malicious destruction of property for damaging his apartment and a communal laundry room.

In February 2024, Herberger-Brown restrained a victim against his will by pinning him to the ground. This occurred alongside other charges of assault, battery, and kidnapping, which he also pled guilty to. This was a different victim who survived the incident.

How The Events Unfolded

According to a press release from the Northwestern District Attorney's office, The Berkshire Eagle reports that the two men had a physical fight in the apartment on February 29, the day Hairston died. Hairston's body was discovered on April 22 after Herberger-Brown’s former landlord noticed a foul smell.

Authorities discovered a tipped-over 55-gallon plastic trash barrel containing partial human remains at the apartment. A hatchet was also found nearby on the ground. The police seized knives, a laptop, and various other items from the residence. Later, Herberger-Brown was stopped at Albany International Airport, where officials noticed that the few items he possessed indicated he was trying to leave quickly. He told officers he was planning to visit his mother in Germany.

He reported to the police that he had a physical fight with someone he believed had broken into his apartment. According to court documents, he mentioned that the man’s heart stopped during the altercation. He also claimed that the man was under the influence of drugs and was assaulting him.

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Remembering Christopher Hairston

Hairston finished high school at Taconic in 2007 and subsequently became part of the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers, a community group made up of local percussion students and performers of various ages.

Friends and family remembered him as a talented percussionist who could connect with people of all ages through his drumming. He was also celebrated for his humor, friendly nature, and for making members of the Rhythm Keepers feel at ease, as one longtime friend described it, with his "big lion heart."