Neil Heslin is an American activist and the father of Jesse McCord Heslin, a six-year-old boy killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut. The tragedy, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six educators, propelled Heslin and other affected families into public advocacy against gun violence and conspiracy theories. He endured significant personal grief and public harassment from individuals influenced by claims from media personality Alex Jones, who asserted the shooting was a hoax. This led Heslin to become a vocal critic of misinformation and a key figure in legal efforts to hold Jones accountable for defamation. In April 2022, Heslin testified in a high-profile defamation trial in Austin, Texas, against Alex Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems (InfoWars), describing the harrowing experience of carrying his son's body out of the school and the subsequent online abuse that forced his family into hiding. The jury found Jones liable and awarded Heslin and his then-wife Scarlett Lewis approximately $49.3 million in damages, with a parallel trial in Connecticut resulting in a $965 million award, contributing to over $1.4 billion in total judgments against Jones by Sandy Hook families. Beyond the trials, Heslin has engaged in gun violence prevention efforts, supporting organizations like Sandy Hook Promise, and has spoken at public forums about responsible media practices and mental health support. His advocacy underscores the ongoing impact of the Sandy Hook tragedy on survivors and families, while facing continued threats from conspiracy adherents. Heslin resides in Connecticut and continues to raise awareness about the consequences of disinformation.