77-Year-Old Man Dies Early Today In Fly Creek Fire FLY CREEK – The state fire marshal’s office is investigating a fatal fire that broke out at 5:29 this morning at 168 Jones Road, near Oaksville. A 77-year-old man died in the fire, which broke in the rear of the one-story home, where the bedrooms are located, on the hillside of Jones Road, which cuts across from Route 28 to Route 80. Two stepsons were at the scene a few minutes…
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BULLETIN TRUITT ARRESTED ONEONTA – Moments ago, Gabriel Truitt, 33, was arrested in the basement of 95 Main St., right next to police headquarters, for the Dec. 29 fatal fire that killed former city firefighter John Heller, 38. CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS…
Chief: OPD Will Call In U.S. Marshals In Search For Arson Suspect Truitt ONEONTA – Police Chief Douglas Brenner said a few minutes ago his department is gathering information that will allow it to bring the U.S. Marshals Office into the search for Gabriel Truitt, the former proprietor of the Tru Cut barber shop being sought in the Dec. 29 fatal fire on Walling Avenue. The step taken by an Otsego County Grand Jury, which issued an indictment against Truitt…
GRAND JURY INDICTS MAN IN FATAL FIRE Gabriel Truitt, First Suspect’s Brother, Faces Murder Arson Counts, Still At Large By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Gabriel Truitt, the brother of the man originally arrested in the Dec. 29 fatal fire at 5 Walling Ave., has been indicted for first-degree murder and other counts, District Attorney John Muehl said a few minutes ago. Truitt’s brother, Terrence, spent five weeks in Otsego County Jail, but was freed Feb. 11…
NEW EVIDENCE PROMPTS D.A. TO FREE TRUITT Unnamed New Suspect Is Sought In Hero’s Death In Oneonta Fire By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – New evidence obtained by Otsego County District Attorney John Muehl has suggested that Terrence Truitt did not set the fatal fire that killed former Oneonta firefighter John D. Heller. Muehl said that he plans to ask the courts to release Truitt from the Otsego County Jail this afternoon. “Our investigation has revealed additional evidence that ethically…
BULLETIN City Judge Bernier Sends Arson Case To Grand Jury ONEONTA – City Judge Lucy Bernier has just ruled that there is enough evidence to send the Terrence Truitt case to the Otsego County Grand Jury. Truitt, 34, was charged with felony arson after a fire at 5 Walling Avenue that killed former Oneonta firefighter John Heller.…
Truitt Felony Hearing Scheduled For 1:30 p.m. In Oneonta Court ONEONTA – Terrence Truitt, 34, suspected in the arson death of former firefighter John Heller last Saturday in the 5 Walling Ave. fire, had his felony hearing rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. today. He was brought to the city’s Public Safety Center at 8:30 this morning, but did not appear in the courtroom during the regular morning session.…
TERRENCE TRUITT IN CUSTODY Leads Poured In, Leading To Arrest Of Oneonta Man, 34 Police, Fire Chiefs Detail What’s Known By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Within hours of Saturday morning’s fire that claimed the life of former Oneonta firefighter John D. Heller, the leads began to pour in. “We had more than 70 leads,” said Police Chief Doug Brenner an hour ago at a press conference held jointly with Fire Chief Pat Pidgeon. “And the investigation…
County Board Observes ‘Moment Of Silence’ For Heller’s Heroism COOPERSTOWN – As one, county representatives bowed their heads for a “moment of silence” at this morning’s meeting in remembrance of John D. Heller, the former OFD on-call firefighter who died Saturday, Dec. 29, in a fire on Oneonta’s Walling Avenue. County Rep. Dan Wilber, R-Town of Burlington, proposed the observance, noting Heller’s heroism: His sister-in-law said he died while rescuing his four nephews and fiance from the flames. In a…
Friday Funeral Planned For Heroic Firefighter ONEONTA – A funeral for John Heller, the former firefighter who died rescuing his four nephews and fiancee in the Saturday morning fire at his Walling Avenue home, will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4 at the Bookhout Funeral Home. Calling hours will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3. Heller served with the Oneonta Fire Department in an on-call and part-time capacity from 2002-2009.…