‘He Can’t Destroy Anyone Else’s Life Ever Again’ AT SENTENCING, HELLER’S FAMILY LASHES TRUITT By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – Erika Heller, John Heller’s sister-in-law, did not hold back as she read her victim’s impact statement at the sentencing of Gabriel Truitt in Otsego County Court this morning. “You stole John from us,” she said. “For four young boys, you stole childhood and innocence and peace of mind. We are all serving a life sentence because of…
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John Heller
Guilty Of Arson, Murder, Truitt Sentenced Friday COOPERSTOWN – Gabriel Truitt, who was found guilty of the arson and murder of John Heller in December 2018, will be sentenced on Friday, July 17 as in-person court appearances resume at the Otsego County Courthouse. “He’s facing life without parole and that’s what I’m going to ask for,” said District Attorney John Muehl. “He should be in jail from now on.”…
In Memory of John, 46 Families Receive Ladders, Extinguishers Erika Heller, with son Rawley, shows off the 22 fire extinguishers and 26 emergency ladders the Valleyview Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization purchased with funds donated in memory of her brother-in-law, John Heller, the former fire fighter who died saving Rawley and his brothers Maddox, Donovan and Macall, as well as fiancee Amber Roe, from a fire in Dec. 2018. Over $1,500 was raised to purchase the fire safety equipment, meaning…
Truitt Guilty Of Arson, Murder ‘I Had To Do It For John,’ Fiancee Declares At Verdict By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.ALLOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – It took just over two hours for the jury to find Gabriel Trutt, 33, guilty of arson and murder in the Dec. 29, 2018, fatal fire at 5 Walling Ave., Oneonta, that killed John Heller. Heller, a former Oneonta fireman, got his four nephews and fiancée to safety before he was trapped in the third-floor…
BULLETIN TRUITT GUILTY IN ARSON, MURDER COOPERSTOWN – Shortly after noon today, a jury found Gabriel Truitt guilty on all four counts of arson and murder charges in the Dec. 29, 2018, early morning fire at 5 Whalling Ave., Oneonta, where former Oneonta firefighter John Heller died. This is a developing story; please check back this afternoon for details. RECAP OF THE CASE Proceedings Underway in Truitt Case Investigator Testimony: Accelerant Under Door Accelerant Isopropyl Alcohol, Arson Expert Testifies Girlfriend:…
Truitt Case Heads To Jury In Closing Statements, Attorneys Debate Timeline By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to ALLOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – For two minutes, District Attorney John Muehl stood in complete silence. “Gabriel Truitt is at 5 Walling Avenue for two minutes,” he told the jury. “You may think that’s not much time, but you can get a lot done in two minutes, especially if you’ve planned to.” Muehl, along with Public Defender Michael Trosset, made their closing statements this afternoon…
Arson-Trial Testimony Creates A Tangled Tale Conflicting Stories Emerge About Night When John Heller Died In Oneonta Fire By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – The morning of Dec. 29, 2018, fire was in front of Heather Engler’s apartment door at 5 Walling Ave., Oneonta. Her stepmother, Rochelle Engler, told District Attorney John Muehl that accused arsonist Gabriel Truitt had contacted her. “He messaged me on Facebook to say that Heather’s house was on fire,” she said. “I…
TRUITT TRIAL: Day 3 Brother Disavows Testimony He Gave Grand Jury, Police By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – Gabriel Truitt’s defense lawyers this afternoon declared they hadn’t been provided a videotape of his brother Terrence speaking with OPD officers in February 2018 brought the fatal-arson trial to a temporary standstill this afternoon. Terrence also told the court the testimony he would give would be at odds with the statements he gave to grand jury and police, further…
TRUITT TRIAL: Day 3 Girlfriend: Suspect Fought Before Fatal Arson Fire Set By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – When Heather Engler woke up on Dec. 28 after staying with a friend on Rose Avenue, she had two missed calls and a message from her stepmother. “She texted me to say that Gabriel (Truitt) had messaged her to say my house was on fire,” Engler testified. “I got up and ran to my apartment, and the fire trucks…
Gabriel Truitt Trial Accelerant Isopropyl Alcohol, Expert Arson Witness Testifies By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special To ALLOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – Video evidence, District Attorney John Muehl said, placed accused arsonist Gabriel Truitt inside his Tru Cuts Barber Shop at 4:30 a.m. the night of the fire that killed John Heller. “He walks in the back door, turns to the right and squats in front of a cabinet,” Muehl said in his opening remarks. “He lights a lighter, takes out two bottles,…