LOCK HAVEN – A man has been arrested in connection with a homicide investigation nearly 24 years ago.
Loyd Groves, 65, of Beaver County, was taken into custody on Thursday for the murder of Katherine Heckel, according to state police at Lamar.
Groves had nothing to say as he walked out of the state police barracks near Lamar in handcuffs.
Groves is charged with first and third-degree murder for the 1991 death of Kathy Heckel of Clinton County.
Investigators recently reopened the homicide investigation in an attempt to solve Heckel’s murder, and brought the case before a grand jury. As a result, the grand jury indicted Groves for the murder.
Heckel was 40 years old when she disappeared in July of 1991. Family members reported her missing a day after she didn't return home from work at International Paper Company in Lock Haven.
State police searched for her in the woods of Clinton County. They say they found numerous pieces of evidence and signs of foul play. They also found her car in a hospital parking lot.
Authorities believe Heckel and Groves had a brief romance during the summer of 1991 and when Heckel broke things off, Groves killed her and got rid of her body.
"It's time that things are done and the whole family can rest," said Heckel's former classmate Peter Dershem.
Some of Heckel's friends and former classmates have followed the case for almost 24 years and say they are happy to see an arrest.
"It's a great thing that we've finally got closure in this case. It's been a long time coming and they've been waiting a long time. They deserve it," said family friend Jim Conway.
The state attorney general's office is investigating the case and says even though Heckel's body was never found, there is a lot of evidence against Loyd Groves, including DNA. Also, Groves did not have an alibi for the time of Heckel's disappearance.
Former classmate Mark Miller says he always believed Groves was responsible.
"I think the family will get a little bit of closure. I don't know if they're ever going to find her or not. That's yet to be seen. Maybe he'll cough something up while they're interviewing him," Miller said.
Former classmates of Kathy Heckel say her family fought tirelessly over the past 24 years for justice and her friends are sad that her father is no longer alive to see this break in the case.
Loyd Groves was taken to the Clinton County Jail.