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Co-Worker: Girl's Dad Had Suicidal Thoughts Before Fire

Codee Wheeler Charged With Homicide In Adoptive Father's Death

UPDATED: 6:30 pm EDT May 16, 2008

The prosecution rested on Friday in the trial for a 17-year-old girl accused of burning down her parents' home in Blairsville, Indiana County.

Codee Wheeler is standing trial as an adult on criminal homicide charges for the March 21, 2007, fire that killed her adoptive father, William, at their South Stewart Street home.

On Friday, a friend and co-worker of William Wheeler, who entered the courtroom in handcuffs after failing to show up on time, said Wheeler talked about killing himself.

"He actually stated that he was going to commit suicide, and he was going to use kerosene on himself," the witness said. "He was going through a lot of pain and had a lot of health problems, so we sat down and talked. We were like family. He was diabetic, open sores on both legs. It was just too much for him to really handle."

Codee Wheeler's defense attorney said the teen had nothing gain by killing her father. He said Sue Wheeler was the one who received the $250,000 insurance check. Codee Wheeler got nothing.

Initially, her biological mother, Georgiann Palmer, was expected to take the stand, along with Sue Wheeler but officials said that won't be happening.

In court on Friday, it came out that Codee Wheeler had been spending more time with her biological mother in the months leading up to the blaze.

Authorities said two weeks prior to the fire, Palmer helped her daughter hide out at a hotel for 18 days before police found her.

"When you have a death like this, a parent, then a child that's charged, certainly does heighten it, and make it all the more tragic," said Blairsville police Chief Donald Hess.

On Thursday, a tape of the girl's 911 call the day of the fire was played for the jury.

The following is a transcript of Codee Wheeler's call to 911:


Operator: "911, what's your emergency?"
Codee: "There's a fire at my house."
Operator: "OK, what's the address?"
Codee: "290 S. Stewart St., Blairsville."
Operator: "All right, you're there right now?"
Codee: "I, I'm outside right now. My dad is still inside."
Operator: "OK. And is there anybody else inside?"
Codee: "No, ma'am. There's no one else here. Please get here. I'm freaking out right now."

Prosecutors said that although the house was burning in front of her, there was virtually no emotion in the girl's voice during her emergency call.

A state police fire marshal said burn patterns suggest the fire was deliberately set in the Wheelers' family room, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The county coroner said William Wheeler, 57, a former Burrell Township supervisor, died of asphyxia from smoke inhalation.

State police said the defendant had accused William Wheeler of acting inappropriately with her, including once walking into the bathroom while she was in the shower, but an investigation by the county Department of Children and Youth Services found no wrongdoing.

That's when, according to police, she plotted the deadly fire.

Codee Wheeler, who was adopted when she was 5, told insurance agents a candle must have started the blaze, but state police disagreed, saying she used kerosene to light a fire in the middle of the family room so her father would have no way out.


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