Death penalty sought in area murder case

RAYMOND THOMAS OECHSLE JR.

An Altoona man who has been accused of killing his neighbor and then residing with the corpse for three days could be facing the death penalty.

During a formal arraignment that was held on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks stated that his office will be seeking the death penalty against Raymond Thomas Oechsle Jr., 51, of Altoona.

The incident in question occurred on April 26, when officers were dispatched to an apartment complex along Eighth Avenue, Altoona. The caller had informed them that she had discovered Oechsle in her second floor apartment, attempting to rob her. She explained that she knew him due to the fact that he lives on the first floor, which is where he fled after she confronted him.

When officers attempted to contact Oechsle at his apartment, they found the door to be barricaded. The caller informed them that there was a second entrance down the hall that was typically unlocked. Officers checked the door and found that to be the case. Upon entering the apartment, they found the body of 42-year-old Christopher Helsel. There were multiple stab wounds to his torso. According to the police report, the brutality of the assault caused extensive damage to his face.

After the residence was secured, officers observed blood on the interior door of the entryway to the apartment complex. A bloody footprint was found in the hallway leading to the backdoor that the officers had entered through. A pile of bloody clothing was discovered under the kitchen table. Furthermore, a bucket containing numerous bloody paper towels and adult diapers was located in the living room.

Officers then began to search the city for Oechsle. He was quickly located by two patrol officers and transported to the Altoona Police Department.

During his statement, Oechsle admitted to murdering Helsel at sometime around 4 a.m. on April 23.

While police were interviewing him, he explained that he had been sitting in the common area hallway outside of his apartment when, he claimed, Helsel confronted him and a physical altercation ensued. Oechsle said that he pulled out a folding knife and began to stab the victim—in both eyes and in the torso multiple times.

He went on to say that Helsel tried to back away, but Oechsle pursued him down the hall and toward the entrance to the apartment, all the while continuing to stab him. He stated that he did not recall how many times he stabbed Helsel. Furthermore, he repeatedly told officers that he is “legally blind” and that he struggles to see.

Police reported that Oechsle only stopped his attack when Helsel said, “Don’t kill me, bro.”

When Helsel finally succumbed to his injuries, Oechsle dragged him into the apartment. He stated that he did not have any plan for disposing of the body. Afterward, he used adult diapers to try to clean up the blood, informing police that, “Cold water cleans blood good.”

Oechsle admitted that he also covered Helsel’s face to avoid looking at him. Afterward, he continued to live in his apartment with Helsel’s corpse, which was lying in the middle of the living room by the front door. He said that he had several friends over to his residence but explained that he kept the lights off and kept everyone away from the body.

Oechsle told police that Helsel had assaulted and verbally abused him in the past. He also denied being under the influence of narcotics and being a drug user. He claimed that he had been forced to stab Helsel in self-defense. However, according to the police report, this appeared inconsistent with the number and placement of stab wounds.

Upon examining Helsel’s body with the coroner’s office, it was observed that approximately 20 stab wounds had been inflicted to his torso alone. Numerous stab wounds were also found on his face, neck, and back. In total, he had been stabbed more than 98 times.

Oechsle was charged with murder of the first degree, murder of the third degree, two counts of felony aggravated assault, felony burglary, and felony criminal trespassing, as well as misdemeanor charges of possessing instruments of crime, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and abuse of a corpse.

On Tuesday, Aug. 1, DA Weeks and First District Attorney Nichole Smith presented Oechsle and the court with a notice that the commonwealth will ask a jury to sentence Oechsle to death should they return with a guilty verdict for firs-degree murder.

The DA’s Office stated that they believe that Oechsle had committed murder by means of torture, explaining that he had an extensive history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence to others. He had previously been convicted in federal court of assault with the intent to commit murder after he stabbed another individual approximately 22 times.

“The nature of this alleged homicide, along with Mr. Oechsle’s history of violent convictions, satisfies the standard to seek death as set forth under the law,” DA Weeks stated. “This is not a duty I will avoid or a decision that I will remove from the hands of a Blair County jury.”

A trial date in the case has not yet been scheduled.

E. S. Young can be reached at [email protected].

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Showers and thunderstorms likely. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%..

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%.

Updated: August 6, 2023 @ 4:56 pm

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