Hudson Valley Father Kills Infant Son

A Hudson Valley father murdered his 7-week-old son.

On Thursday in Orange County Court, 27-year-old Michael Heil of Middletown was found guilty, after a three week jury trial, on two-counts of murder and two counts of manslaughter.

“There can be no more innocent a victim than an infant, and no greater crime than a father killing his own baby,” District Attorney David Hoovler said. “The evidence in this case showed that Zachary Heil had suffered brutal injuries, which could only have been inflicted by his own father.”

In court prosecutors argued that on August 7, 2016, Heil slammed, severely shook, or threw the baby. The infant lived for about two weeks on life support before succumbing to his injuries.

During the trial, nine medical witnesses testified for the prosecution and two experts testified on behalf of the defendant.

Prosecutors argued that the evidence from all the medical experts established that the infant had suffered catastrophic head injuries while being cared for by Heil.

According to prosecutors, Heil had subjected his infant son to traumatic head injuries, while the infant’s mother was at work. Prosecutors established, through electronic and social media evidence, Heil’s growing pattern of frustration over his child’s crying as a result of being diagnosed with colic.

At the trial, Heil argued that the infant’s mother injured the baby.

Heil faces 25 years to life in prison when sentenced in November.

• Police: Hudson Valley Mother Kills Children’s Father
• 8 Accused of Moving to Hudson Valley to Sell Large Amounts of Heroin
• Hudson Valley Police Save Potential Suicidal Woman
• Help Needed to Find 2 Missing Hudson Valley Men
• Police: Hudson Valley Mechanic Steals Check From Customer’s Car
• Beware: Man Trying To Lure Children Into Car in the Hudson Valley

Here are this week's Top 5 news stories from the Hudson Valley