Heltzel insane, not guilty of murder, judge rules; could spend lifetime hospitalized

WARREN

Patrick L. Heltzel was suffering from schizophrenia and experiencing a series of psychotic beliefs when he killed Milton Grumbling III, 71, at Grumbling’s home on Kincaid East Road in Warren Township on April 4, 2013, a judge ruled.

On Wednesday, Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court said Heltzel, 23, of Atlantic Street, is not guilty by reason of insanity in the slaying of Grumbling and robbery of a Bible and Masonic ring from him.

Heltzel will remain in the county jail until his next hearing at 11 a.m. Tuesday, when a mental-health professional will advise the judge on whether Heltzel is a mentally ill person who should be confined to a state mental hospital.

It likely is to play out in a similar way to the case of Royce Honaker, 63, of Southington, who Judge Logan ruled not guilty by reason of insanity last November in the killing of Honaker’s wife, Donna. Honaker was committed to Heartland Behavioral Health Center, a state mental hospital in Massillon. Honnaker will return to court in two years for another evaluation. Heltzel and Honaker could spend the rest of their lives in a mental hospital.

Judge Logan read his 14-page ruling to Heltzel, with many Heltzel and Grumbling family members present, focusing mostly on the evaluations given to the court by four mental-health professionals hired by the court and giving the most weight to one submitted by Dr. Stephen Noffsinger.

Read more about the case in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.