PATCHOGUE, New York — A 61-year-old long-haul truck driver has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend inside his tractor-trailer near a Long Island motel, Suffolk County prosecutors announced.

According to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, Willie Hart, of Yaphank, was convicted by a jury on October 29, 2025, of second-degree murder for the killing of 37-year-old Candace Woodruff of Texas.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on May 29, 2023, Hart called police around 2:25 a.m., claiming to have found Woodruff unresponsive in his truck cab parked near the Shore Motor Inn in Patchogue. When officers arrived, they found Woodruff on the ground in front of the truck, not breathing.

Investigators observed fresh scratches on Hart’s face, and medical personnel later documented signs of asphyxia due to neck compression, consistent with homicide. Surveillance footage revealed that Woodruff had entered the tractor cab around 1:25 a.m. carrying several bags. Hart followed her minutes later.

According to prosecutors, the two remained inside the cab for roughly 35 minutes as a struggle was captured on video. When Hart emerged, he was seen touching his bleeding face and later retrieved a bag from the motel room before finally calling 911.

Inside the truck, investigators found evidence of a violent struggle, including jewelry belonging to both Hart and Woodruff, and spilled Ramen rice, which was also found in Woodruff’s mouth.

“The defendant behaved cowardly and callously when he took his girlfriend’s life,” said DA Tierney. “I am relieved that the jury has held him responsible for his actions.”

Hart faces 25 years to life in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on December 3, 2025 before Justice Richard Ambro.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Eric Aboulafia and Sheetal Shetty with assistance from the Homicide Squad.

📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.