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A Pennsylvania hunter will plead guilty to the shooting death of an 18-year-old man who watched a sunset with his girlfriend by a lake in a state park.
Kenneth Troy Heller, 52, of Warminster, surrendered to authorities on Wednesday and was held without bail on a preliminary indictment. He agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter and other charges during a court appearance in April.
“Obviously it’s not a perfect ending, perfect would mean we’ve got Jason back,” Bucks County Attorney Matt Weintraub said. “This is just not how real life works.
Kenneth Troy Heller
(Bucks County District Attorney’s Office)
Prosecutors said Jason Kutt, 18, was shot in the back of the neck on October 24 while sitting with his girlfriend by Lake Nockamixon in Nockamixon National Park. Kutt’s girlfriend told police she saw a man in an orange vest standing behind a yellow door about 150 yards away, looking their way after the shooting, Weintraub said.
On Tuesday, Heller and his lawyer met with detectives and he admitted firing the gunshot that killed Kutt, Weintraub said. Heller has been charged with criminal homicide, reckless endangerment of another person, possession of an instrument of crime, possession of a prohibited offensive weapon and two violations of hunting law, Weintraub said.
Jason Albert Kutt, 18, was shot and killed in October while watching a sunset with his girlfriend, prosecutors said.
(Bucks County District Attorney’s Office)
Investigators narrowed their list of potential suspects after they found three vehicles seen in the park, one of which belonged to Heller. After the shooting, he did not show up for work the following Monday and was visibly “shaken” when he returned on Tuesday, Heller’s colleagues told authorities.
“I don’t think Mr. Heller intended to shoot to kill Jason Kutt,” Weintraub said. “He never knew the man, they had no animosity. It wasn’t a ‘Hey, I’m going to try and see what it’s like to be a killer moment’ for Mr. . Heller. He expressed remorse. “
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Heller’s colleagues also said he donated his guns, hunting gear and ammunition after the shooting. A search of his vehicle on Dec. 10 revealed a .17 caliber Marlin rifle, ammunition and an orange hunting vest with a 2020 hunting license issued to Heller attached to the back of the vest, Weintraub said.
Heller faces up to 20 years in prison. Weintraub said Kutt’s family accepted the plea deal.
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