BETHELHEM, Pa. (AP) - A man has been ordered to trial on a homicide charge in the death of a man found in the trunk of a car in eastern Pennsylvania.
A Northampton County judge ruled Monday that there is enough evidence to try James Heimbach, 30, in the September death of Joseph Goda, 28, in Bethlehem. Charles Yocum, 32, who waived his right to a preliminary hearing, faces charges including abuse of a corpse.
Authorities say Goda was bludgeoned after the trio used flakka, a synthetic drug similar to bath salts. A Bethlehem police detective testified that he believed a shotgun was used, but police said the weapon hasn’t been found.
Detective James Ruvolo said Heimbach said Goda attacked him, “hitting him and trying to bite his face,” and he was “fighting for his life.” He said he fled, but his next memory was being stopped by Pocono Township police three days later while running through traffic in his underwear.
Yocum’s attorney blamed Heimbach for the slaying and said his client is cooperating, although no plea deal has been reached. Ruvolo testified Yocum told him he saw Heimbach attack the victim with the shotgun, hitting him in the face and neck as he begged for his life.
Police say the two then wrapped Goda’s body in a rug, put it in the trunk of Heimbach’s car, and then spent several days driving around Monroe County before Heimbach was arrested in Stroudsburg on a public intoxication charge and the body was found in the trunk. Three days earlier, Heimbach’s landlord told Bethlehem police he had gone to the apartment to have Heimbach sign a lease and found the unit empty and blood-spattered.
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