Early on August 25, 2008, an attacker broke into the Springfield, Georgia, home of the Heidt family and opened fire using a spare key that was stashed away in a storage.
A third victim lived, but the famous father Philip Heidt, a developer and real estate agent, and his youngest son Carey Heidt, were shot dead in their beds. Despite being shot in the face, Philip’s devoted wife was able to call 911.
However, as NBC’s “Dateline: Mystery in Effingham County” reports, the arrest of Linda Heidt’s other son caused her world to collapse once more.
Who is Linda Heidt?
In the 1960s, Linda Heidt was swept off her feet by Philip when they met at the county fair in Savannah. Their romance was brief. She claims that he won her heart instantly, and as a result, they were married and welcomed into a family not long after.
Craig, Chris, and Carey, the couple’s three boys, followed in their father’s footsteps and grew up to be “good men… They had values and they believed in each other.”
Though there was always love, their relationship wasn’t always smooth, especially after Craig had an affair with Carey’s wife. This is true of any family.
However, August 2008 brought about a change. After hearing sounds in the toilet that fateful day, Linda went to investigate and was shot in the lower left side of her face. Her spouse of 42 years was harmed, too, even though all she remembers is a flash and anguish.
It was 3 a.m. Somehow, she managed to pick up the phone and dial 911. Despite her panic, Linda managed to stop the attacker from setting their house on fire by using her 911 phone signal.
Four weeks later, when she awoke in the local hospital, she could barely remember what had happened.
Linda Heidt: Where is She Now?
Linda could not believe it when her oldest son, Philip Craig Heidt, was accused and taken into custody for the murders of his father and brother and for aggravated assault or battery on his mother.
An official said in court that Linda’s manner changed and her pulse quickened when he saw her at the medical center because she wasn’t interacting with her kid as freely.
Linda, however, insisted in her testimony that she had never seen the burglar and was therefore unable to even identify him. It seems as though she thinks Craig is innocent.
The tragic story of the Heidt family is one of suffering, bereavement, and unsolved mysteries. Please feel free to visit Investrecords for in-depth articles and updates to learn more about this case and other true crime stories of a similar nature.
For the first time, Linda discussed the subject in an interview with CBS’s “48 Hours Mystery” in the early 2010s. She acknowledged that she knows her child and is certain that her family’s attacker is not her son.
She also said that if she had any doubts about his involvement, she would never put up a fight for him. But for now, all Linda has to say is that she lost her youngest son, her eldest, and her lifelong companion.
Since then, Linda has favored avoiding the spotlight and attention of the media. Thus, all that is known about her is that she is still residing in Georgia.
Who is Linda Hedit’s Husband?
Living in a comfortable hut on a hunting club near Oliver, Philip Craig Heidt was said to have made a steady existence for himself, despite being the outlaw and the black sheep of the Heidt family.
He was an active hunter rather than a developer and realtor, and he hadn’t settled down like his father and younger brother. However, everything changed in April 2008 when Craig started having an affair with Robin Heidt, Carey’s mother of her three children.
As soon as the family found out about this liaison, there were arguments within the family.
Records state that in August 2008, Philip approached his daughter-in-law and that when she attempted to leave, he became a little agitated.
When Robin later called her lover to tell him what had transpired, all he replied was that he would go “old school” on them if his father and brother did not exercise caution and mind their own business.
A few days later, Carey told his wife that the low-flying helicopter they heard while they were at Craig’s cabin was meant to obtain evidence of their affair. After a fight between the married couple, he went to stay the night at his parents’ house.
Naturally, Robin called Craig shortly after to rant, only to have Philip, Carey, and Linda shot the next morning. It took some time for authorities to conclude that a shotgun was the weapon used because no evidence, not even empty shell shells, was found at the scene.
But by then, as she confirmed, Craig had already denied having an affair with Robin and stated that one of his shotguns, boots, and gas cans was gone. However, within his truck, investigators discovered shells similar to those used in the murders. Thus, on May 22, 2009, he was captured.