Delaware News

AG Jennings announces conviction of Cpl. Keith Heacook’s murderer

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Monday, October 16, 2023


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Prosecutors have convicted a Delmar man for the murder of Cpl. Keith Heacook in April 2021. Randon Wilkerson, 32, will serve the rest of his life in prison following a stipulated non-jury trial in which he was convicted of 16 charges, including two counts of Murder 1st Degree and 11 other felonies.

“Cpl. Keith Heacook served his Department and his community honorably and faithfully for more than two decades,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “He was stolen from us far too soon. We lost that day a father, a husband, a brother, a son, a public servant, and a protector.  In the days following his murder, and the vicious assault on two elderly victims, we committed that the Defendant would be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Today, thanks to the tireless work of our prosecutors and law enforcement, that promise can be fulfilled. Cpl. Heacook’s family, his brothers and sisters in Delmar PD, and the entire community of Delmar are in our hearts today.”

On the morning of April 25, 2021, 22-year Delmar Police Department veteran Cpl. Keith Heacook responded to a 911 call for a domestic incident. Upon arrival to the residence, Heacook was viciously attacked by Wilkerson and was later found unconscious, having suffered multiple blows to the head. He died of his injuries later that week, leaving behind his wife, four children, and a devastated community. Wilkerson was later arrested and charged with Heacook’s murder, in addition to the severe assault of the two elderly victims that morning.

Prosecutors convicted Wilkerson Monday of the following charges:

  • Two counts of Murder 1st Degree
  • Five counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony
  • Three counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited
  • Two counts of Assault 1st Degree
  • Burglary 1st Degree
  • Assault 3rd Degree
  • Terroristic Threatening
  • Offensive Touching

Wilkerson’s conviction was secured by Deputy Attorneys General David Hume, Amanda Nyman, and John Donahue with support from Lead Victim Service Specialist Deirdre Hudson and Paralegal Kristan Hudson, following an investigation led by Det. Mark K. Csapo of the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit.

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AG Jennings announces conviction of Cpl. Keith Heacook’s murderer

Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | News | Date Posted: Monday, October 16, 2023


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

Prosecutors have convicted a Delmar man for the murder of Cpl. Keith Heacook in April 2021. Randon Wilkerson, 32, will serve the rest of his life in prison following a stipulated non-jury trial in which he was convicted of 16 charges, including two counts of Murder 1st Degree and 11 other felonies.

“Cpl. Keith Heacook served his Department and his community honorably and faithfully for more than two decades,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “He was stolen from us far too soon. We lost that day a father, a husband, a brother, a son, a public servant, and a protector.  In the days following his murder, and the vicious assault on two elderly victims, we committed that the Defendant would be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Today, thanks to the tireless work of our prosecutors and law enforcement, that promise can be fulfilled. Cpl. Heacook’s family, his brothers and sisters in Delmar PD, and the entire community of Delmar are in our hearts today.”

On the morning of April 25, 2021, 22-year Delmar Police Department veteran Cpl. Keith Heacook responded to a 911 call for a domestic incident. Upon arrival to the residence, Heacook was viciously attacked by Wilkerson and was later found unconscious, having suffered multiple blows to the head. He died of his injuries later that week, leaving behind his wife, four children, and a devastated community. Wilkerson was later arrested and charged with Heacook’s murder, in addition to the severe assault of the two elderly victims that morning.

Prosecutors convicted Wilkerson Monday of the following charges:

  • Two counts of Murder 1st Degree
  • Five counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony
  • Three counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited
  • Two counts of Assault 1st Degree
  • Burglary 1st Degree
  • Assault 3rd Degree
  • Terroristic Threatening
  • Offensive Touching

Wilkerson’s conviction was secured by Deputy Attorneys General David Hume, Amanda Nyman, and John Donahue with support from Lead Victim Service Specialist Deirdre Hudson and Paralegal Kristan Hudson, following an investigation led by Det. Mark K. Csapo of the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit.

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.