‘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…
Online home of The Freeman's Journal and Hometown Oneonta
Advertisement
County Judge Brian Burns
BULLETIN TRUITT GETS LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE ONEONTA – Gabriel Truitt, found guilty of first-degree murder and arson in the 2018 death of former Oneonta firefighter John Heller, was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole a few minutes ago by county Judge Brian Burns during his sentencing hearing at the Otsego County Courthouse. Developing; check back for details…
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…
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…