A Steuben County Grand Jury has indicted the Corning man accused of murder in early-August.
Brett Hefter, 29, has been indicted on charges including first- and second-degree murder, first-degree rape, second-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree falsifying business records, and fourth-degree grand larceny.
Those aren’t the only charges he faces, either.
Heffner is accused of killing Keli Collins “while he was in the course of committing or attempting to commit” rape, according to court docs.
He’s also accused of remaining at her apartment after the murder with the intent to commit larceny. According to the criminal complaint, he also made false statements to police after the incident.
Collins was found dead inside her apartment during the early morning hours of August 5. Heffner was found a short time later in Collins’ car in Hornell.
Both Heffner and Collins lived at the same apartment complex.
“The indictment handed up by the Steuben County Grand Jury today includes the most serious offense chargeable under New York State law, Murder in the First Degree, based upon evidence that not only did the Defendant intend to kill Keli Collins, but he intended to and did forcibly rape her as well. Though the Defendant must be presumed innocent at this juncture, the charges contained in this indictment set forth allegations of truly horrendous conduct by the Brett Heffner,” Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker said.
He’s currently being held without bail.
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