Jury convicts Middletown man in death of his infant son
A Middletown man was convicted by an Orange County jury Thursday of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the 2016 death of his infant son.
Michael Heil, 27, of Middletown, had been accused by prosecutors of slamming, severely shaking or throwing the seven-weekold baby, Zachary Heil, on Aug. 7, 2016. The baby spent about two weeks on life support before succumbing to his injuries, authorities said.
Thursday’s verdict, which found Heil guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and one count each of first- and seconddegree manslaughter, followed a three-week trial before County Judge Craig Stephen Brown in Orange County Court.
Prosecutors had argued that the evidence from nine medical experts established that the infant had suffered catastrophic head injuries while being cared for by Heil, and that evidence established that Heil had subjected Zachary to traumatic head injuries while the infant’s mother was at work.
Prosecutors also said they established, through electronic and social media evidence, Heil’s growing pattern of frustration over the baby’s inconsolable crying due to colic.
At the trial, Heil had argued that the boy’s mother had injured the baby.
Heil, who was arrested by the Middletown police on Sept. 13, 2016, faces up to 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 16.
District Attorney David M. Hoovler highly praised Assistant District Attorney Jason Rosenwasser and Assistant District Attorney Janine Kovacs, who prosecuted the case.
“There can be no more innocent a victim than an infant, and no greater crime than a father killing his own baby,” said Hoovler. “The evidence in this case showed that
Zachary Heil had suffered brutal injuries, which could only have been inflicted by his own father. The jury rejected the defendant’s attempt to shift the blame to the baby’s grieving mother. In light of all of the circumstances, my office will be recommending that the maximum permissible sentence be imposed upon Michael Heil.”
Hoovler thanked the Middletown Police Department for its professionalism in handling the case.