On a fall evening in 2020, 18-year-old Jason Albert Kutt was at Nockamixon State Park with his girlfriend, enjoying the sunset by the lake. It was Saturday, October 24th, when their peaceful evening was shattered by the sound of a single gunshot. Kutt, a recent graduate of Pennridge High School, was struck in the head and collapsed. His girlfriend, who witnessed the horrific event, saw a man in orange hunting attire nearby.
Kutt was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries two days later, on October 26, 2020.
The investigation into the shooting death of the male teenager from Sellersville, Pennsylvania, quickly focused on identifying the hunter seen in the area. Authorities appealed to the public for information, specifically asking for help in locating the owners of three vehicles seen at the park around the time of the shooting. This public plea proved crucial in leading investigators to 52-year-old Kenneth Troy Heller of Warminster.
Initially, the nature of the shooting was unclear, with investigators considering whether it was an accident or an intentional act. However, as the investigation progressed, details emerged that painted a grim picture of negligence. Heller, who was hunting in the park, fired his rifle from a distance of approximately 550 feet, striking Kutt. After the shooting, Heller fled the scene and made no attempt to render aid or report the incident.
In December 2020, authorities executed a search warrant at Heller's home and found the. 17-caliber Marlin rifle used in the shooting, along with an orange hunting vest. Faced with the evidence, Heller admitted to firing the fatal shot. In July 2021, Kenneth Troy Heller pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, and other related charges. He was sentenced to seven to twenty years in state prison. During the sentencing, Kutt's family delivered emotional impact statements, expressing their profound and unending grief over the loss of their son.
