Sources: Murder suspect turned himself in, confessed and then released

REUTER (Times Union photo)

       According to sources, one of the suspects under indictment for the murder of Al and Maria Lockrow turned himself in and gave a statement confessing to the crime. But, because he was not read his rights at the time, police had to let him go and he wasn’t officially arrested until some 12 hours later.

 

A Grand Jury indicted Jacob Heimroth and Daniel Reuter on 19 charges in relation to the Aug. 20 brutal beating of the popular Lansingburgh couple. They are slated to be arraigned on Monday in Rensselaer County Court.

First, Reuter called police and told them about the crime and the location of the Lockrow’s Ford Escapade SUV that was stolen from their home by the murderers. It was found shortly thereafter in a Columbia County field. It had been lit on fire and severely burnt so the car offered little to investigators. On Sept. 1, Reuter physically went to the police station and gave a written statement.    

Police, however, had no choice but to release him because he was not read his Miranda Rights – which, among other things, advise suspects of their right to silence and to an attorney. Sources say the detectives were afraid that if he was officially read his rights, he would not have been as forthcoming with his statement that included confessing to getting high on drugs and alcohol and beating the couple to death. He also named Heimroth, who did not confess and who has been less cooperative than Reuter, sources said.

If police didn’t let Reuter go at that time, the statement could have been thrown out if the case goes to trial. But, since they let him go he was not in custody, the statement is considered voluntary and has a much better chance of being admitted as evidence.  

HEIMROTH (TU Photo)

On Sept. 1, after Reuter was released, his aunt Sue Ann Ringwood attempted to set up a meeting between police and Reuter and Heimroth, but the two didn’t show. Reuter was arrested some 12 hours later in Schenectady and Heimroth was arrested later that evening in Troy.

According to sources, Reuter told police he was splitting time between his mother’s home at the Lansingburgh Apartments where Ringwood also lived, and sleeping in a tent near the Lockrow’s home on First Avenue. Ringwood was a clerk at the OTB in Lansingburgh, a betting establishment frequented by Al Lockrow. She has since been transferred to the OTB East Greenbush branch.

Al Lockrow and Ringwood had been close friends for years. She was questioned at least twice by police.

Ringwood is from Columbia County as are Reuter and Heimroth.

Sources say after the murder and before burning the car in Columbia County, the two went to the home of the girlfriend of the brother of former Troy Police Officer Michael Johnson. Hudson police arrested her in March for possession of heroin while she was in a car Johnson was driving. Johnson was suspended for 30 days for that incident but did not face any criminal charges. He later resigned as an Internal Affairs investigation proceeded and has since been arrested for an unrelated burglary.

The name of the woman whose home Reuter and Heimroth went after the murder could not be determined Saturday but sources did say she is cooperating with authorities.  

It’s unclear what time Monday the two will be arraigned.