From the Office of the 2^nd Prosecutorial District Attorney

District Attorney Seth Edwards announced Friday the conviction of Herbert Wood Heath Jr., in the 2014 murder of his mother and arson of their Cherry Run Road home in Washington. Superior Court Judge Beecher Gray from Durham sentenced Wood following his guilty plea to a minimum of 29 years and a maximum of 37 years in the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.

According to Edwards, Investigator Brad Shackelford of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office testified at the sentencing hearing. On Aug. 16, 2014, a 911 call was received around 3 a.m. of a home on fire on Cherry Run Road. Investigators arrived to find a mobile home engulfed in flames. Herbert Heath was outside of the home and stated he had taken his dog for a walk. It was apparent to Shackelford that Heath was coherent but had been drinking.

Mildred Heath, 66, was found face down in her bedroom. She had sustained extensive burns on her back side. An autopsy performed at the East Carolina University School of Medicine found that Mrs. Heath had sustained six broken ribs and other bruising about her body, including injuries consistent with strangulation. No evidence of soot was found inside her lungs, indicating she died prior to the fire. Given the extent of her physical injuries, it was concluded they occurred after she got off work around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 15 and prior to the arrival of first responders about five hours later. Shackelford also testified that while awaiting trial in jail, Heath admitted to another inmate over a game of chess that he had killed his mother and set the home on fire in an attempt to cover up the crime.

Heath, 41, had prior convictions for simple assault, assault on a female and two DWIs. One of Heath’s brothers, Troy Heath, made an impassioned plea to the judge to sentence the defendant to the maximum allowed under the plea.

“There will be no more apple pies on Sunday, or even a phone call to say I love you,” he said. Troy Heath also noted that all the family heirlooms were lost in the fire.

“I am hopeful the family receives some closure with this plea,” Edwards said.