Maggie,
The only way anyone gets to Heaven is if Jesus Christ has saved them (cf. Acts 4:11-12) The culpability of anyone, regarding any sin, is strictly God's call to make. We can only (posit|propose) guesses in any circumstance whether God would hold them accountable for it, but murder is a mortal sin. The level of remorse and contrition counts as well.
Mortal sins can be forgiven through a perfect (absolute sorrow/regret) contrition, but short of that, absolution in Confession is needed.
So the moral of the story is, anyone who commits murder should seek the forgiveness of God, preferably in the Sacrament of Confession, for to die in mortal sin is perilous for the soul.
Even murderers can be forgiven and saved when they receive and accept God's Mercy.
Peace,
Bob Kirby
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