Martin Heidgen, convicted of killing 2 in limousine in 2005 wrong-way crash on Meadowbrook Parkway, released on parole

Martin Heidgen, who was convicted of murder for killing 7-year-old flower girl Katie Flynn and limo driver Stanley Rabinowitz in a horrific 2005 drunken driving wrong-way crash on the Meadowbrook Parkway, has been released from prison.

Heidgen, 43, who was sentenced in Nassau County to 19 years to life in prison, was released from state prison Wednesday, said Thomas Mailey, director of public information for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Katie's mother, Jennifer Flynn, said in a statement that her family hopes Katie's memory serves to prevent inebriated drivers from getting behind the wheel.

"For a short time, our family had a profound impact on thousands of people. We asked that the public may know our sadness and feel our pain. Katie was murdered as a 7-year-old girl; where her murderer lives, imprisoned or paroled, makes no difference in our lives," Flynn said in the statement. "We realize that our news cycle is over, but it is our hope that your readers think of us and that we influence their choices." 

Flynn and her family were returning home in the limousine from a family wedding in Bayville on July 2, 2005, when Heidgen, an insurance salesperson from Valley Stream who was then 24, crashed his pickup truck into them while driving the wrong way on the Meadowbrook, prosecutors said. Evidence at trial showed he had downed more than a dozen alcoholic beverages and that his blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit of .08 in New York State.

Katie, of Lido Beach, and Rabinowitz, 59, of Farmingdale, the driver of the limo, were killed. Several of Katie’s family members were critically injured in the crash.

Stephen LaMagna, Heidgen's lawyer, released a statement on behalf of Heidgen and his family.

"Both Marty and his family are grateful to the parole board for recognizing that it is appropriate for Marty to be released on parole and allow him to reenter society and become a productive and constructive member of our community," the statement said. "He is and remains forever remorseful for all of the pain he has caused to so many and continues to pray for them and their families."

Rabinowitz's wife, Joyce Rabinowitz Schuster, expressed disappointment Friday and criticized the board that ordered his release.

"Shame on the parole board who released a murderer," Rabinowitz Schuster said. "How could the parole board not listen to what the district attorney said — don't release him — and all the families? The Flynns lost their daughter, my sons lost their father."

Rabinowitz's eldest son, Keith Rabinowitz, said he agreed with his mother's sentiments.

"I don’t think it’s enough time," he said. "It's not fair. He should have never gotten out. It should have been two life sentences."

Heidgen was convicted at trial in October 2006 of two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree assault and one count of tampering with physical evidence.

The case was one of the first in which a drunken driving crash involving a fatality had been tried with the top charge of murder. The state's highest court rejected Heidgen's appeals, saying the horrific nature of the case showed he formed the necessary state of mind for murder by "depraved indifference" to human life.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, whose office prosecuted Heidgen under a prior district attorney, called the defendant "a risk to society."

"I strongly opposed Martin Heidgen’s release after serving only the minimum sentence for his crime and am disappointed in the Parole Board’s decision," Donnelly said in a statement, adding that Heidgen demonstrated "a lack of sincerity and remorse" over the crash. 

"Despite causing this carnage and heartbreak, Heidgen still suggested he would continue to drink after his release, exposing a flawed character and complete disregard for the lives he tore apart," she said. "He has not demonstrated true accountability for his actions and remains a risk to society."

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.