Delmar Corporal Keith Heacook murder trial: A look back

...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT SATURDAY... * WHAT...Two to three feet of inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. * WHERE...In Delaware, Inland Sussex. In New Jersey, Cape May. * WHEN...Until 2 AM EDT Saturday. * IMPACTS...At this level, flooding may become severe enough to cause structural damage along with widespread roadway flooding in coastal and bayside communities, and near inland tidal waterways. Some locations may become isolated by the flood waters. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The greatest impacts from coastal flooding are expected with this evening's high tide. Locally major flooding impacts are possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Coastal Flood Warning means that moderate or major tidal flooding is occurring or imminent. Be prepared for rising water levels and take appropriate action to protect life and property. Follow the recommendations of local emergency management officials. Do not drive your vehicle through flood waters. The water may be deeper than you think it is. You will be putting yourself in danger and your vehicle may be damaged, leading to costly repairs. Visit the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service at water.weather.gov/ahps for additional water level and flood impact information for your local tide gauge. && Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour. Delaware Bay at Lewes MLLW Categories - Minor 6.0 ft, Moderate 7.0 ft, Major 8.0 ft MHHW Categories - Minor 1.3 ft, Moderate 2.3 ft, Major 3.3 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact -------- --------- --------- --------- -------- 21/08 PM 8.1 3.4 3.0 Major 22/09 AM 6.6 2.0 2.5 Minor 22/09 PM 7.0 2.3 1.9 Moderate 23/10 AM 5.5 0.8 1.3 None 23/10 PM 6.1 1.5 1.1 Minor 24/10 AM 5.2 0.5 0.8 None Great Egg Harbor Bay at Ocean City MLLW Categories - Minor 5.3 ft, Moderate 6.3 ft, Major 7.3 ft MHHW Categories - Minor 1.3 ft, Moderate 2.3 ft, Major 3.3 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact -------- --------- --------- --------- -------- 21/08 PM 7.1 3.1 2.5 Moderate 22/08 AM 5.6 1.6 2.1 Minor 22/08 PM 6.1 2.1 1.6 Minor 23/09 AM 5.0 1.0 1.2 None 23/09 PM 5.2 1.2 0.7 None 24/09 AM 4.3 0.3 0.5 None Cape May Harbor at Cape May MLLW Categories - Minor 6.2 ft, Moderate 7.2 ft, Major 8.2 ft MHHW Categories - Minor 1.1 ft, Moderate 2.1 ft, Major 3.1 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact -------- --------- --------- --------- -------- 21/08 PM 8.3 3.2 2.7 Major 22/08 AM 6.9 1.8 2.3 Minor 22/08 PM 7.4 2.3 1.8 Moderate 23/09 AM 5.9 0.8 1.1 None 23/09 PM 6.4 1.3 0.9 Minor 24/10 AM 5.5 0.4 0.6 None &&

Zoe Stayman
Zoe Stayman
Digital Content Manager, Draper Media

Zoe is Draper Media's digital content manager. She oversees digital content across the company's TV news stations, lifestyle shows and radio stations. This includes working closely with news directors and their teams to ensure the timely and informative sharing of content, amplifying audience engagement and social media communities, providing continuing development for staff members and keeping our websites, apps and streams up to date and working.

Author email
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 Updated Dec 8, 2023

SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. - The trial for Randon Wilkerson, the man who is accused of murdering Delmar Corporal Keith Heacook in 2021, is set for Monday morning at the Georgetown courthouse.

HISTORY

Corporal Heacook was a 22-year veteran of the Delmar Police Department. On April 25, 2021, he was assaulted by Wilkerson, who was 30 at the time. Around 5:15 a.m., Heacook responded to a reported fight in progress on Buckingham Drive in the Yorkshire Estates community in Delmar. Delaware State Police have said the 911 caller reported an occupant, later identified as Wilkerson, as being disorderly. Shortly after, a second 911 call came in from a nearby neighbor who said he and his wife had been assaulted by a man who was no longer at their house.

Upon arriving to the scene of the first call, which was later discovered to be completed by Wilkerson's roommate, police say the corporal was confronted by Wilkerson. Dispatchers did not receive a response from Heacook after that, according to police. Additional officers were dispatched from multiple agencies and they arrived to find Heacook unconscious inside the home.

He was pulled from the residence by first responders and officers began first aid until emergency medical services arrived. Heacook was transported to TidalHealth in Salisbury and given a police escort to shock trauma in Baltimore with significant head injuries.

Three days later, Heacook was taken off life support. His organs were harvested and donated to help others live. His memorial service on May 10, 2021, brought thousands of friends, family, community supporters and law enforcement from around the country.

RELATED ASSAULT

An investigation into the second 911 call revealed that Wilkerson knocked on the back door of an elderly couple's home, according to police. He was met by Steve Franklin, who was 73 years old at the time. Wilkerson allegedly then assaulted him, hitting him multiple times with a glass angel figurine before turning to do the same to his then 76-year-old wife, Judy.

The couple sustained significant injuries, according to police. They were taken to area hospitals by ambulance. Judy was later transported to shock trauma in Baltimore.

Steve Franklin injuries — Steve Franklin and his wife were also attacked by Randon Wilkerson on the same day Wilkerson is accused of killing Delmar Corporal Keith Heacook in 2021. Courtesy Steve Franklin.

Steve Franklin and his wife were also attacked by Randon Wilkerson on the same day Wilkerson is accused of killing Delmar Corporal Keith Heacook in 2021. Courtesy Steve Franklin.

Though they have recovered since that day, their memories and effects of the assault haven't gone away. The Franklins told CoastTV News in April 2022 that the incident brought PTSD with it as well as physical reminders.

"She's still not really stable, still needs to push the cart at Walmart to get around rather than walking," Steve Franklin said of his wife, "and I've still got some balance and coordination issues..."

As of last year, the couple planned on remaining in their home.

"I'm not going to let some dirt bag like that run me out of the neighborhood," Franklin said. "It's not going to happen."

WILKERSON ARRESTED

Wilkerson was seen by responding officers walking near the back of the couple's property. He was taken into custody without further incident on the day of the assault and murder accusations.

His initial charges included attempted first degree murder, two counts of first degree assault, two counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, first degree burglary, third degree assault and terroristic threatening.

Wilkerson was arraigned and originally committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $451,000 cash bond. He was later moved to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna.

In late September 2023, Wilkerson waived his right to a jury trial and opted for a bench trial in which a judge would decide his fate as opposed to facing a jury of his peers. His trial in Sussex County Superior Court in Georgetown is set to begin at 9 a.m. on Monday.