Trucker sentenced for killing girlfriend, 22 years younger, inside truck cab.
A Long Island truck driver has been sentenced to a term of 22 years to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, a case that has drawn significant attention. Willie Hart, aged 61 and resident of Yaphank, was convicted in connection with the fatal incident involving 37-year-old Candace Woodruff, which occurred in May 2023 at a motel in Patchogue.
The events surrounding the case unfolded on May 29, when Hart contacted law enforcement early in the morning, claiming that he discovered Woodruff unresponsive inside the cab of his tractor-trailer parked near the Shore Motor Inn. Upon their arrival, Suffolk County police found Woodruff lying on the ground in front of the vehicle without signs of life. They noted that Hart displayed visible signs of injury, specifically scratches on his face that were described as actively bleeding.
Emergency responders reported that Woodruff exhibited multiple traumatic injuries, which included abrasions to her face and neck, soft-tissue hemorrhaging, as well as contusions on her head and neck and bruising on her arms and legs. Despite attempts to revive her, she was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to Long Island Community Hospital. Subsequent examinations concluded that the cause of death was asphyxia due to neck compression.
Further investigations revealed that security camera footage captured significant moments leading up to the tragedy. Just prior to the incident, Woodruff was seen exiting her motel room with bags and entering Hart’s truck around 1:30 a.m. Hart followed her into the truck cab approximately nine minutes later. During their 35 minutes inside the truck, a struggle was documented by the surveillance cameras. Hart was later observed leaving the cab and returning to the motel room in an apparent state of distress. He was also recorded placing a bag into a vehicle before returning to the truck.
On October 29, Hart was found guilty of second-degree murder. The sentencing on Wednesday was met with sentiments from Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney, who expressed hope that the lengthy prison term might offer the victim’s family some measure of solace amidst their tragic loss. This case underscores the complexities and challenges of domestic violence situations, highlighting the need for ongoing public discourse and intervention strategies to better protect vulnerable individuals.
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