Trucker Convicted of Murdering Girlfriend in Motel-Lot Tractor Cab

PATCHOGUE — A Suffolk County jury has found a 61-year-old truck driver guilty of murdering his girlfriend inside the cab of his tractor-trailer parked outside a Patchogue motel, bringing a chilling end to a case that began with what the defendant claimed was a medical emergency.

Prosecutors said Willie Hart, of Yaphank, strangled 37-year-old Candace Woodruff of Texas during an argument inside his truck on May 29, 2023. The pair had checked into the Shore Motor Inn earlier that night, but what began as a visit quickly turned violent.

According to evidence presented in court, surveillance footage captured Woodruff leaving her motel room and entering the cab of Hart’s truck around 1:25 a.m. Hart followed moments later. For more than 30 minutes, the camera recorded movement and signs of a struggle inside the vehicle before Hart emerged, clutching his face and showing what appeared to be a fresh scratch. He briefly returned to the motel room to retrieve his belongings, placed a bag in his car, and only then called 911 to report that his girlfriend wasn’t breathing.

When police arrived, Woodruff was found lying on the ground outside the cab, unresponsive. Officers immediately noticed visible injuries on both her face and neck, and Hart’s face bore bleeding claw marks. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner later ruled her death a homicide by asphyxiation, caused by pressure to the neck.

Investigators said the cab of the truck told its own story. Scattered food, broken jewelry, and overturned items showed clear signs of a violent confrontation. Detectives also found bits of ramen noodles near and inside Woodruff’s mouth — the same meal Hart had been eating before the attack — indicating a frantic, chaotic struggle in close quarters.

During the trial, prosecutors described Hart as “angry and controlling,” saying he lashed out when Woodruff tried to end their relationship. The defense, meanwhile, argued the death was accidental and that Hart panicked after finding Woodruff unresponsive. The jury rejected that claim, deliberating only briefly before returning a guilty verdict for second-degree murder, a charge that carries up to 25 years to life in prison.

District Attorney Ray Tierney praised the verdict, calling it “a victory for justice and for Candace’s family,” adding that domestic violence “often hides in plain sight until it turns deadly.”

Hart is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3 in Suffolk County Supreme Court.

The case has left a deep mark on the Patchogue community, where residents still recall the heavy police presence that May morning. For many, the conviction offers some closure — but also a painful reminder of how quickly domestic disputes can escalate into tragedy.

Anyone experiencing domestic abuse is urged to call 911 or contact the Suffolk County S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women Program at (631) 853-8222 for confidential support.

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