Witness cross-examined in Centre Hall murder trial
Michael Snyder
The man who police say drove Ronald Heichel to and fron the scene of
the Aug. 23, 2009 shooting of Centre Hall resident Samuel Boob
testified today that Heichel told him he planned to kill Boob.
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CDT/Nabil K. Mark
Mirinda Boob exits a vehicle on her way into the Centre County
Courthouse in Bellefonte, March 16, 2011. CDT/Nabil K. Mark
View larger
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Kermit Butts was the first witness called in the trial of Mirinda Boob
and Ronald Heichel, who are charged with conspiring to kill Mirinda
Boob’s husband, Samuel.
Butts had been scheduled to stand trial with them, but Judge Pam Ruest
last week issued an order separating his trial on charges of
aggravated assault and hindering prosecution.
District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, in her opening arguments, told
jurors that Mirinda Boob had been trying since 2008 to get someone to
kill her husband, and that the prosecution would present two witnesses
who say she asked them to shoot Samuel Boob.
Parks Miller said Mirinda Boob was having an affair with a man named
Wes Decker, and wanted to get rid of her husband so she could be with
Decker. When Decker refused, whilecontinuing the affair with him, she
also began an affair with Heichel and convinced him to kill her
husband, Parks Miller said.
“The evidence will show you she wanted out of this marriage,” Parks
Miller told jurors. “She grew up spoiled, got what she wanted. Mirinda
Boob just wanted a different life. One positive thing about Mirinda
Boob -- she’s not a quitter because she kept trying to find a man who
would help her kill her husband.”
Heichel’s attorney deferred his opening arguments until later in the
trial. Edward Blanarik, the attorney representing Mirinda Boob, took
about 20 minutes for his opening statement, telling jurors that
there’s no evidence she had any part in planning her husband’s death.
They would find, he said, that she’s not guilty of the crimes of which
she’s accused.
"A lot of evidence at first will be very damning, no doubt about
it ... don't judge a book by its cover," he told jurors.
Kermit Butts said he and Heichel worked together at Garbrick’s
Amusement in Centre Hall, and lived together in the company’s
bunkhouse. Butts said he was allowed to drive a company vehicle, and
he and Heichel were coming back from a job late one night in early
August 2009 when they saw Mirinda Boob at a convenience store.
Butts said he and Heichel had a contest as to who could get the most
women’s phone numbers. Heichel approached Mirinda Boob and she gave
him her number after about five minutes, Butts testified.
In the weeks that followed, Butts said he several times drove Heichel
to meet Mirinda Boob at a Penns Cave sign on state Route 45, and the
two would go somewhere from there to have sex.
On Aug. 18, 2009, Butts said, Heichel asked for his help in disposing
of Samuel Boob’s body. Butts said he refused, even after being offered
$5,000 in insurance money for his help.
On Aug. 23, 2009 -- the day of Samuel Boob’s death -- Butts said
Heichel asked for a ride to the Penns Cave sign, and along the way
said he planned to confront Samuel Boob about his abuse of Mirinda
Boob. Eventually, Butts said, Heichel admitted he planned to kill
Samuel Boob.
Butts said he pulled the vehicle over and told Heichel he didn’t want
anything to do with the plan. He said Heichel attacked him, choked and
threatened to kill him or have him killed.
Butts said he feared for his life, and drove Heichel to the sign,
where Heichel told him to wait and left carrying a backpack. Butts
said he went into the woods and got high, and Heichel came back about
45 minutes later, thanked him for waiting, and they drove back to the
bunkhouse.
During cross-examination, Blanarik attempted to cast doubt on the
credibility of Butts, who was interviewed by police three times.
When Butts was first interviewed, shortly after Samuel Boob's death,
he didn’t provide any information about the killing.
“You told them you didn’t know nothing about nothing,” said Blanarik.
Butts replied: “Yes, sir,”
“In fact, you lied to them?” said Blanarik.
Butts agreed that he had.
“Yes, sir.”
Blanarik also admitted that he lied to police the second time they
interviewed him, in August 2010.
Later, Blanarik had Butts confirm to jurors that, if convicted of the
charges against him, he faces 27 years in prison.
Butts said he expected to face even more serious charges after his
arrest.
“I thought I was going to be charged with conspiracy to murder,” Butts
said.
Blanarik implied that Butts’ was only testifying to save himself.
“You’re not really doing this out of the goodness of your heart?”
Blanarik asked.
Butts disagreed.
“Yes, I am sir,” he said.
“You’re not expecting anything whatsoever?”
Butt replied that he’s “hoping and praying” that his prison sentence
will be reduced.
“But I’m not expecting anything,” he said.
For a complete report, see tomorrow's Centre Daily Times.