Two murder cases are continuing to wind their way through the Venango County court system.
Brandon Wells, 46, of Oil City, and David Heathcote, 53, of Emlenton, are both facing a first degree murder charge in their respective cases. Wells is also looking at drug and child endangerment charges.
Wells is accused of killing his girlfriend, Brierlie Walters, 39, at the residence they shared at 12 Mineral St. in Oil City just over a year ago on March 5, 2022.
Heathcote is accused of killing Robert Wingard, 52, of Parker, on Oct. 29, 2022, at Heathcote’s residence.
Both men were held for court after their preliminary hearings in Venango County Central Court, then they waived arraignments in the Court of Common Pleas, setting the stage for their upcoming proceedings.
Jury selection is looming in Wells’ case for a potential trial in the spring.
Venango County assistant district attorney Kyle Peasley said jury selection is scheduled for the end of April for a May trial for Wells, who has been lodged in the Venango County jail since his arrest.
Oil City police found Walters’ body in a 55-gallon drum at the Mineral Street home, and police said Wells told officers he had located Walters on a bed in the residence and placed her body in the drum so her three minor children who lived at the residence wouldn’t see the body.
Police detained Wells and checked the residence, where they verified that a dead woman was in a drum in an upstairs bedroom.
A motion to compel additional discovery was granted Feb. 13 by Venango County President Judge Marie Veon, according to court documents.
In August, Wells was charged with first-degree murder, replacing a previous charge of murder in the third degree, court documents note.
A felony count of drug delivery resulting in death was also added to the list of charges against Wells, according to court documents.
In addition to the two charges added in August, Wells has been charged with felony counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and criminal attempt — manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, three felony counts of endangering the welfare of children, and misdemeanor counts of possession of controlled substances, use/possession of drug paraphernalia and abuse of a corpse.
Meanwhile, in Heathcote’s case, Franklin state police said in a criminal complaint they were called the evening of Oct. 29 by Heathcote, who told them he had shot Wingard at his Emlenton residence.
Heathcote told police Wingard was someone he “had problems with for years,” the complaint said.
On Jan. 9., Heathcote was charged at his Common Pleas arraignment with first-degree murder, replacing a previous charge of criminal homicide.
Peasley indicated that significant developments in Heathcote’s case are likely a few months down the road.
