Heil pleads guilty in Pruitt murder case

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The third person charged in connection with the murder and dismemberment of Michael Pruitt in Springfield Township back in March took a plea deal in Bradford County court on Thursday.

Summer Heil, who was originally charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, pleaded guilty to one felony count of hindering apprehension or prosecution with intent to conceal or destroy evidence in the third degree.

All other charges against her have been dropped, and she will testify against Ronda and Terry Parker.

The Parkers are accused of killing Pruitt at Ronda Parker’s home in Springfield Township. According to police, Heil was not involved with the murder.

“I am happy that Heil has taken responsibility for her actions by pleading guilty to the felony, which can result in up to seven years of incarceration in a state prison,” Bradford County District Attorney Richard Wilson announced.

“During the plea proceeding, Heil acknowledged that she did not play any role in the killing of Michael Pruitt, which is consistent with all of the evidence set forth in hearings previously,” Wilson said. “However, Heil added some important pieces of testimony during her plea proceeding, confirming that she saw two revolvers at Terry Parker’s apartment in Harrisburg shortly before the murders.”

The District Attorney noted that this is significant because testimony at the Preliminary Hearing suggested that Pruitt was killed with antique revolvers that were found in Terry Parker’s apartment following the execution of a search warrant there.

The Parkers have been charged with criminal homicide, conspiracy – criminal homicide, abuse of a corps and tampering with, fabricating physical evidence.

If the Parkers go to trial, it would begin sometime in 2025.

Heil will be sentenced in December.