A Pennsylvania hunter will plead guilty in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old man who was watching a sunset with his girlfriend on a lake in a state park.
Kenneth Troy Heller, 52, of Warminster, surrendered to the authorities on Wednesday and was detained without bail during a preliminary charge. He agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter and other charges at a trial in April.
“Clearly this is not a perfect ending, perfect would mean we have Jason back,” said Bucks County district attorney Matt Weintraub. “This is 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 the Nockamixon lake in Nockamixon State Park. Kutt’s girlfriend told police she saw a man in an orange vest standing behind a yellow gate about 550 meters away, looking in their direction after the shooting, Weintraub said.
On Tuesday, Heller and his lawyer met with detectives and he admitted to firing the shot that killed Kutt, Weintraub said. Heller was accused of criminal homicide, recklessly putting another person at risk, possession of an instrument of crime, possession of a prohibited offensive weapon and two violations of the hunting law, Weintraub said.
Jason Albert Kutt, 18, was shot and killed in October while watching the sunset with his girlfriend, prosecutors said.
(Bucks County District Attorney’s Office)
Investigators reduced their list of potential suspects after tracking three vehicles seen in the park, one of which belonged to Heller. After the shooting, he didn’t show up for work the following Monday and was visibly “shaken” when he returned on Tuesday, Heller’s co-workers told authorities.
“I don’t believe it was Mr. Heller’s intention to shoot to kill Jason Kutt,” said Weintraub. “He never met the man, they were in no mood. This was not a ‘Hey, I’m going to try and see what it’s like to be a murderer’ moment for Mr. Heller. He expressed remorse.”
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Heller’s coworkers also said he gave up his firearms, hunting equipment and ammunition after the shooting. A search of his vehicle on December 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 the Kutt family had agreed to the court settlement.