Even Though Her Body Is Still Missing, After 30 Years Her Ex Lover Is on Trial For Her Murder.

Katherine Dolan Heckel

Katherine was a doting mother who would do anything for her family.

She was 40 years old when she went missing from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania on July 15, 1991.

She was last seen leaving her office at the International Paper Company.

Katherine called her two children just before lunch that day and said she was going to run some errands and would eat her lunch alone. 

At the start of her lunch break she drove her car out of the parking lot and never returned. 

Her father reported her missing the next day.

Katherine wasn't carrying any money or personal belongings, and her financial accounts weren't used.

Her silver 1990 Ford Festiva was found near the Lock Haven Hospital at 10:30 p.m. on July 17.

The car was parked in third gear with the emergency brake applied, and the keys were missing. 

At the time of her disappearance, Katherine's husband of eighteen years was in the National Guard and was away from home on a two-week training exercise.

Authorities focused on one of Katherine's coworkers, Loyd Groves.

Shortly before her disappearance, Katherine told a friend she was having an affair with Groves, who was also married. 

She allegedly said she wanted to end their relationship but Groves did not.

She said she was anxious and fearful of him and accused him of stalking her and sending her lewd messages. 

On the morning of the day she disappeared, she had a fight with Groves and he was witnessed chasing her through the paper plant.
Groves's van was seen leaving the International Paper Company at around the same time as Katherine's car. 

He claimed not remember where he was at the time of her disappearance, and allegedly attempted to manufacture an alibi.

Katherine's body has never been found.

On November, 19th, 2018, Loyd Groves is on trial for Katherine's murder.

He is charged with both first-degree and third-degree murder.

In opening statements, the deputy attorney general told the jury that

Katherine was afraid of Groves and he killed her out of jealousy because she broke off their affair.

In court on November 21st, Dennis Taylor said he was having an affair with Katherine at the time she disappeared.

He said that they began a relationship in June 1991, meeting on a regular basis for lunch at various parks and sometimes at her home.

Even though he was married as well, he said the relationship became sexual.

Taylor said he knew about Katherine's relationship with Groves and on July 9, 1991, 

Taylor said Katherine told him she wanted to get out of that relationship.

Katherine also told him Groves did not want the relationship to end and he had been sending her cards and calling her all of the time.

On the day Kathy disappeared, Taylor said he spoke with Katherine at about 9 a.m.

They made plans to meet that evening at 9 p.m. at Twin Kiss, but at about 11:30 a.m., he received a call from Katherine saying that she was very upset and frightened.

She said, ‘he wants me to go to lunch with him.'”

Taylor was busy at work and told her he’d call her right back. When he tried to call her back 10 minutes later, she was already gone from work.

With teary eyes Taylor said,

“I never got the chance to talk to her. I just wish I had the chance to talk to her. I feel partially responsible because I couldn’t talk to her.” 

He kept trying to call her that day, but she never answered.
He then went to play golf at Nittany Country Club.

Taylor wanted to help find Katherine, so the next day he went voluntarily to the state police to tell them what he knew.