City man charged in grisly killing
Oechsle had been living with victim’s body for several days
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A city man charged with murder had been living with the dead man's body in his living room for several days before police, responding to a report of a burglary, discovered the grisly scene, according to a criminal complaint.
Court documents released after Raymond Thomas Oechsle Jr., 51, was arraigned on murder charges, describe the scene and how officers came across the body of Christopher Helsel, covered by a white and green shirt and a welcome mat.
Helsel, 38, had been stabbed more than 60 times, according to an autopsy conducted Thursday.
The case is "a very bizarre crime of rage," Altoona police Sgt. Matthew Plummer said.
Shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday, Altoona police were dispatched to 2003 Eighth Ave., Apt. 2, for a reported burglary in progress. The female victim said she found Oechsle in her apartment and he fled to the first floor when she confronted him.
The victim told police Oechsle had been in and out of his first floor apartment over the last 24 hours and she saw him sitting in front of his apartment at midnight and later again at 6 a.m.
The victim reported that her TV, DVD player and a red Hoover vacuum were missing from her residence.
When police attempted to make contact with Oechsle at Apt. 1, they noticed a door with fresh damage consistent with a burglary. Officers tried to open the door, but it was barricaded. The female victim told police that the second entrance down the hall was always unlocked.
Police checked that door, found it unlocked and entered the apartment where they found Helsel's body.
Police said Helsel lived in Apt. 4.
In clearing the apartment, police located the female's stolen items in the kitchen, the report states.
During the murder investigation, police found blood on the interior door of the entryway to the apartment complex, a bloody footprint in the hallway leading to the backdoor and a pile of bloody clothing under the kitchen table, including sneakers and jeans. In the living room near the body, police found a bucket containing bloody paper towels and adult diapers.
In working to identify Helsel, police lifted the shirt from over his head and found that had numerous stab wounds to the face, including his eyes.
Two cellphones were located on the banister on a porch outside Apt. 1, police said, and belonged to Oechsle, a neighbor said. The neighbor told police she saw Oechsle use the phones earlier in the day.
Police began searching for Oechsle and took him into custody for the burglary, court documents state.
He was read his Miranda rights when he was taken into custody and again at the Altoona Police Department, after which he agreed to talk with officers.
At that point, Oechsle admitted to stabbing and killing Helsel about 4 a.m. Sunday, dragging his body into his apartment and covering Helsel's face to avoid looking at him. Police said Oechsle continued to live in the apartment for days, even having friends over to the residence, but kept the lights off and kept them away from the living room area.
Oechsle claimed he killed Helsel in self-defense, court records show, stating that he was sitting outside his apartment because he was locked out. While in the hallway, Oechsle claimed Helsel confronted him and a physical altercation ensued. Oechsle told police he pulled out a folding knife and began to stab Helsel.
Oechsle admitted to stabbing Helsel in both eyes and in the torso and when Helsel tried to back away, Oechsle pursued him down the hallway toward the entrance to the apartment building while continuing to stab him. He didn't remember how many times he stabbed Helsel, but Oechsle said he stopped when Helsel stated, "Don't kill me bro."
Oechsle told police that in the past Helsel assaulted him, verbally abused him and acted tough, court documents state, and at the time of the stabbing, Helsel "acted like a b****" when he tried to get away.
Police said while Oechsle claimed he stabbed Helsel in self-defense, it was inconsistent with the number and placement of the stab wounds. Oechsle denied being under the influence of narcotics and denied being a drug user, police reported.
Helsel died of his injuries by the front door, Oechsle said, and that's when he forced entry into his own apartment and dragged Helsel's body inside. He then took adult diapers and cleaned the blood left at the crime scene, telling police, "cold water cleans blood good."
Police viewing the crime scene said it was clear that an attempt had been made to clean up the blood in the entryway.
With the coroner on scene, police observed about 20 stab wounds to Helsel's torso alone, including the side and chest, primarily the left pectoral above the heart. Police also saw numerous stab wounds to Helsel's neck and face and one stab wound to each of his eyes, along with an injury to his lower face. In addition, multiple stab wounds were found on Helsel's back.
Police recovered the knife in a pair of pants as described by Oechsle, court documents state.
Oechsle told police multiple times that he is legally blind and struggles to see.
Police noted that officers went to the apartment building about 10:14 a.m. Wednesday looking for Helsel after his employer asked for a welfare check. Officers went to Apt. 4 to conduct the welfare check, but Helsel could not be located.
Oechsle was arraigned Thursday morning before Magisterial District Judge Fred B. Miller on first- and third-degree murder, felony aggravated assault, felony burglary and felony criminal trespass charges, along with misdemeanor charges of possessing an instrument of crime, theft, tampering with evidence and abuse of corpse.
He is being held in the Blair County Prison without bail.
His preliminary hearing is set for May 10 before Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones.