Autopsy in Corning Murder Shows Victim was Strangled
CORNING, NY (WENY) -- Corning police released new information on the murder investigation of a woman who was killed in her apartment on Friday, revealing she was strangled.
The official cause of death of Keli Collins determined by an autopsy was ruled "ligature strangulation homicide." Collins was found unresponsive in her apartment at Stewart Park Apartments shortly after 1AM on August 6th. Corning police and emergency responders worked to revive her, but she died at the scene.
Police charged 29-year-old Brett Heffner with second degree murder. Heffner lived at the complex, and police say the two knew each other. Heffner is accused of attacking Collins in her apartment, then stealing her car and fleeing the area. He was later arrested around 2AM in Hornell.
Investigators are continuing to interview witnesses and process evidence, which is being sent to the State Police Crime Lab in Albany.
“I would like to thank all the people that have come forward in this case and offered information. The alert friends and neighbors of Ms Collins, who weren’t afraid to become involved, are the ones that made a difference. They 'saw something and said something.' The rapid response of law enforcement and the involvement of concerned citizens is what gave us the ability to make an arrest as quickly as we did," said Jeff Spaulding, Corning Police Chief. “I believe that the collaborative investigative effort of the Corning Police, Hornell Police, Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police have given the District Attorney’s Office a very prosecutable case in which Mr Heffner will undoubtedly be convicted for the murder of Kelli Collins.”
Heffner is scheduled to appear in Corning City Court on Thursday, August 11 at 10:30AM.
