An Oneonta, New York man has been arrested for causing a fire that killed a former city firefighter.
City officials say the fire started at John Heller’s third-floor apartment on Walling Avenue around 4:21 a.m. on December 29th. The 38-year-old former fireman and his fiancé, Amber Roe, were hosting four young boys for a sleepover at the time. At a press conference Wednesday, Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig credited Heller with getting all four children, and Roe, out of the building.
“We experienced the loss of a true Oneonta hero," says Herzig. "Mr. John Heller lost his life only after saving the lives of five other people, four of them children – his nephews and his fiancée. I think I can say confidently that every single person here in the city of Oneonta is very proud of him.”
18 firefighters reported to the fire, with the West Oneonta, Otego, and Laurens fire departments providing mutual aid. All the victims, including Heller, were taken to A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta, where Heller was pronounced dead and one of the four boys was treated for a burn on his arm. Oneonta Police Chief Douglas Brenner says the investigation quickly became a criminal probe.
“On Sunday, December 30, 2018, the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control determined that all accidental causes for the start of the fire had been eliminated," says Brenner. "The City of Oneonta Police Department then requested assistance of the New York State Police, as this was now a criminal felony investigation.”
34-year-old Terrence Truitt of Oneonta was arrested on Monday and charged with first-degree arson, a class A felony. Police Chief Brenner did not comment on what led police to Truitt, or where the fire started, citing the ongoing investigation. Brenner did say Truitt has a prior criminal record, but did not provide further details. Officials say there is no known connection between Truitt and Heller. Investigators are looking into whether Truitt knew anyone else in the multi-apartment building. Brenner says police haven’t ruled out the possibility of additional suspects.
“We’re still in the very, very early stages of this investigation," he says. "We’ve gone over 70 leads, and we have many more to follow and more coming in. We are not putting any type of timeline to conclude the investigation. We will conclude it when we run out of leads.”
Truitt is being held at the Otsego County Correctional Facility. Brenner says Otsego County DA John Muehl will make additional recommendations for charges as the investigation continues.
“We have been very vigilant in this investigation, and we continue to be," assures Brenner.
Heller was an Oneonta native and a part-time firefighter in the city’s fire department from 2003 to 2009. A funeral service is set for 1 p.m. Friday at the Foothill Performing Arts and Civics Center in Oneonta.