TRUITT TRIAL: Day 4 D.A. Challenges Truitt’s Brother By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – In his testimony this morning, Terrence Truitt, the older brother of defendant Gabriel Truitt, said he went to 5 Walling Ave. – home of Heather Engler – to help his brother look for the keys he’d lost that night following a fight at the Sip & Sail Tavern. District Attorney John Meuhl wasn’t buying it. “The Sip & Sail is the opposite direction of…
Online home of The Freeman's Journal and Hometown Oneonta
Advertisement
Terrence Truitt
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…
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…
Heller Might Not Have Been Target, Testimony Suggests Women’s Apartment Door ‘Covered’ On Floor Below Where Hero Died By JENNIFER HILL • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – A burned spray can was found outside the door of a woman’s apartment at 5 Walling Ave., state investigators told City Judge Lucy Bernier during testimony today. And the bottom of Heather Engler’s door was “covered,” state Fire Investigator Christopher Lupold testified. The testimony suggests the woman may have been the target, rather than…
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.…
Truitt In Court On Arson Charge CHECK BACK FOR FULL REPORT ON TODAY’S HEARING…
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…
ONEONTA MAN, 34, CHARGED IN FIRE ONEONTA – Terrence Truitt, 34, Oneonta, has been charged with arson in Saturday’s fatal fire where a former fireman died, Fire Chief Pat Pidgeon and Police Chief Doug Brenner report in a press conference earlier this evening.…