Heil
GOSHEN – Middletown resident Michael Heil was found guilty on Thursday
of killing his seven-week-old son and when he is sentenced in November,
he will face up to 25 years to life in prison.
Heil, 27, was convicted of two counts of murder and two counts of manslaughter
in the death of little Zachary Heil. The verdict followed a three-week
jury trial before Orange County Court Judge Craig Stephen Brown.
It was alleged that on August 7, 2016, Heil slammed, severely shook, or
threw the baby. The child lived for about two weeks on life support before
dying.
Evidence at trial indicated that Heil subjected the baby to traumatic
head injuries while the child’s mother was at work. Prosecutors
had established through electronic and social media evidence, Heil’s
growing pattern of frustration over the victim’s inconsolable crying
as a result of being diagnosed with colic.
“There can be no more innocent a victim than an infant, and no greater
crime than a father killing his own baby,” said District Attorney
David Hoovler.
Assistant DA’s Jason Rosenwasser and Janine Kovacs prosecuted the
case against Heil.
