A Crescent City man will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was convicted last week of second degree murder.
Neil Thomas Hiller, 34, was found guilty of the charge with special allegations of using a firearm and having a prior serious felony and was sentenced to 116 years to life in prison. Hiller was also convicted of violating community supervision in a separate case.
Hiller was arrested in April of last year and charged with murder in the death of 22-year-old Joseph Deford.
The case began when the sheriff’s office received a 9-1-1 call reporting a man lying on the ground in the 200 block of Harding Avenue. When first responders arrived, they found Deford unresponsive. The first officer attempted CPR and other life-saving activities, but could not revive Deford.
It wasn’t until he was at the hospital before doctors realized Deford had been shot with a small-caliber gun.
Police were able to zero in on Hiller after surveillance video showed Deford walking and two men on bicycles following behind him. The video was taken about two minutes before the 9-1-1 call. Using the surveillance video, officers were able to identify Hiller, and he was arrested days after the shooting.
Hiller was held without bond until the case concluded last week, and he will be transferred to the California prison system to begin serving his sentence.