Hero May Not Have Been Target, Chief Concluding – All Otsego

Advertisement. Advertise with us

Hero May Not

Have Been Target,

Chief Concluding

Suspect’s Brother Person

Of Interest, Can’t Be Located

Erika and Michael Heller, right, hold close two of their four boys who John Heller – her brother-in-law; his brother – rescued from an arson last Saturday, losing his own life. To their right is Amber Roe, John’s fiancé. In the foreground, Heller’s pallbearers console each other after placing the casket in the hearse after Jan. 4 funeral in Foothills’ Atrium.

By LIBBY CUDMORE

ONEONTA –With one arrest, 100 leads and a “person of interest” who can’t be found, Oneonta Police are still piecing together what happened during the blaze that killed a man hailed as a “hero” on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5 Walling Ave.

“We’re not sure what (Terrence) Truitt was trying to do,” Police Chief Doug Brenner said of the suspect facing a charge of arson, first degree. “It looks like Heller was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Truitt, 34, is now accused of setting a fire on the second-floor that killed former Oneonta firefighter John Heller, 38, in his third-floor apartment. Truitt was arrested and charged with arson, first degree, Monday, Dec. 31, and appeared in City Court for a felony hearing on Friday, Jan. 4.

“We had information that didn’t line up with what (Truitt) had first told me,” said Oneonta Police Detective Sgt. Branden Collison. “He kept changing his stories.”

But police are seeking the whereabouts of his brother, Gabriel Truitt, whom they are calling him a “person of interest,” but providing no further explanation.

Though initially interviewed at the start of the case, Brenner said he has not been seen or heard from since.

“We’re trying to figure out to what extent Gabriel is involved,” he said.






You have reached your limit of 3 free articles

To Continue Reading

 

Our hard-copy and online publications cover the news of Otsego County by putting the community back into the newspaper. We are funded entirely by advertising and subscriptions. With your support, we continue to offer local, independent reporting that is not influenced by commercial or political ties.

Posted

Related Articles

Car Hits Tractor Trailer; I-88 Closed Between Exit 12/13

Car Strikes Tractor-Trailer; I-88 Shut Between Exit 12/13 A tractor trailer caught on fire after an accident between I-88 Exits 12/13 in Oneonta. The car involved in the accident swerved to avoid hitting a deer, according to State Police ONEONTA – A car swerved to miss hitting a dead deer and ended up hitting a tractor-trailer in an accident on I-88 earlier this morning. Hopefully, they knew the difference between Comprehensive vs Third Party Insurance and picked what was right for their situation. I've heard that youi.com.au has some useful information on the topic for those interested. With the eastbound…

Fire Destroys Christopher’s Restaurant

FIRE DESTROYS CHRISTOPHER'S Oneonta Landmark Burns Overnight The fire that broke out overnight completely destroyed Christopher’s Restaurant on Southside.  The landmark was unique locally:  It was built and decorated as an Adirondack lodge, evident in the trophies (foreground) that decorated the walls. The cause remains under investigation (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com) By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – The Oneonta Fire Department is still on the scene after an early morning blaze destroyed landmark Christopher's Restaurant on Southside. The call came into the city fire department at 2:20 a.m. and professional firefighters arrived on the scene to find the restaurant fully engulfed.  "It…

Fire Chief: Christopher’s Fire Started In Dining Room

Fire Chief: Christopher's Blaze Started In Front Dining Room Oneonta Assistant Fire Chief Jim Maloney, front, confers with fire investigators, while Don Tubia, left, helps sift through the rubble of the front right corner, where the early-morning fire that destroyed Christopher's Restaurant is believed to have started. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com) By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – The overnight fire that destroyed Christopher's Restaurant on Southside started in the front right corner of the building, a dining area, according to Oneonta Fire Chief Patrick Pigeon. A passerby called the fire in at 2:20 a.m. and crews arrived less than…