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Heckathorn gets 25 to life

Danielle Heckathorn is led into the courtroom by sheriff’s Deputy Lt. Allan Young prior to her sentencing. (Photo by Deanne Johnson)

LISBON — Danielle Heckathorn, the woman convicted earlier this month in the 2015 murder of Quinn Wilson, was sentenced on Thursday to 25 years to life in prison.

Heckathorn, 30, was found guilty by a Common Pleas Court jury following four days of testimony on all the charges against her — complicity to murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, complicity to robbery, tampering with evidence and three counts of obstructing justice.

Judge C. Ashley Pike sentenced Heckathorn to 15 years to life on the complicity to murder charge and then added consecutive sentences of six years for the complicity to robbery and one year each for tampering with evidence and three counts of obstructing justice.

Pike said in making his decision that he found he agreed with the sentencing memorandum submitted by Chief Assistant County Prosecutor John Gamble and Assistant County Prosecutor Ryan Weikart.

“The evidence shows that this defendant was the architect or mastermind in the robbery and murder of Quinn Wilson,” Pike said. “The public needs to be protected from her for a very long time … The defendant was responsible for setting into motion all the events that led to the slaughter of Quinn Wilson.”

The dismembered body of Wilson, 33, was found off Seigler Road in Wayne Township. Wilson, whose last known address was Erie Street, East Liverpool, was murdered in the trailer of Heckathorn’s co-defendant, Daniel T. Landsberger, however, investigators and prosecutors believed Heckathorn was the one who instigated the death of Wilson.

Landsberger is currently serving 18 years to life in prison for murder, gross abuse of a corpse and two counts of tampering with evidence.

A teary-eyed Heckathorn addressed Pike prior to her own sentencing and apologized to Wilson’s grandparents in the courtroom, although during her statement she did not actually admit to being responsible for murdering Wilson.

“I’m truly and sincerely sorry for the role that I did play the night that ultimately led to your grandson’s death,” Heckathorn said. “Every life is precious and if I had any indication that Dan was capable of this kind of brutality, things would have turned out much differently … I pray that you one day find forgiveness in your hearts.”

Heckathorn talked about how she had a debilitating disease as a teenager and a 12-year abusive marriage where she claims she was traded and sold by her spouse and others for a “fix.” She talked about her years living a lifestyle where others overdosed in the back seat of her vehicle and where she overdosed twice, once on purpose.

“My mind and body were so ill that I wanted to die,” Heckathorn said.

However, Heckathorn talked about how she has been clean for two years, found someone who now loves and supports her, has made amends with her family and now has a 1-year-old son.

“I pray daily for forgiveness for my past transgressions,” Heckathorn said, “and for all the dumb things I did when I was messed up, for all the people I hurt.”

Heckathorn followed that up by saying she is trying hard to learn to forgive others and she proceeded to give a list of those she believed have wronged her, which included the detectives, prosecutors, jurors and co-defendant Landsberger.

Heckathorn said the detectives did not immediately respond when they learned of the crime and then drew “all the wrong conclusions” during the investigation.

“I know that your job cannot be easy, especially when you try to apply routine police work to a case that was far from routine,” Heckathorn said.

Heckathorn noted the prosecutors allowed a known drug addict (Brandi Cope) “with a documented history of falsifying statements” to testify falsely against her. She accused the prosecutors of twisting her words from her statements she gave to investigators, “in order to defile my character and present your misguided and somewhat psychotic story to the jury.”

She added she forgave the investigators, the prosecutors and the jurors, who bought the story presented. However, she said it was Landsberger’s sole decision to murder Wilson.

“I’m not guilty of murder,” Heckathorn said. “That decision was made by someone without my knowledge and I’m not responsible for their actions.”

Heckathorn’s attorney, Peter Horvath, indicated her intention to file an appeal of the case.

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