Panel upholds son's murder conviction

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - An appellate panel has upheld the second-degree murder conviction of 58-year-old David Heck, according to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. Heck, who is serving a 25 years to life sentence, was found guilty of the Christmas Eve 2009 bludgeoning death of his 87-year-old mother Ruth.

Heck tried to overturn the conviction, saying there was insufficient evidence, that police violated his rights, that prosecution engaged in misconduct and that the judge made numerous mistakes. The appellate panel rejected Heck’s arguments.

The DA’s office says the panel noted that Heck struck his mother in the head with a hammer at least 13 times, and then “staged the crime scene to make it appear that his mother had fallen and hit her head.”