FOR OTTUMWA RADIO
More videos are expected to be presented to the jury today, followed by more testimony from DCI agent Chris Thomas as the Seth Techel murder trial continues at the Henry County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant. Defense attorney Steven Gardner will also get the chance to cross-examine Thomas today.
Techel, charged with the May 26th, 2012 murder of his pregnant wife Lisa Caldwell Techel, was questioned by authorities for nearly six hours on the day his wife was killed. On Tuesday, the jury heard a lot of that questioning and a lot of Seth Techel’s answers.
On the recorded testimony with Wapello County sheriff’s deputy Jeff Layton and DCI agent Thomas, Seth was consistent all along in his story of what happened that morning, contending that someone had shot his wife while he was in the shower. Seth said he then heard a thumping noise in his living room or kitchen area, grabbed his Glock pistol and rushed down the hall to, as he said, “find the killer.” He found the front door wide open and look out from the porch but said he saw no one. He then returned to the bedroom to find Lisa no longer breathing.
No physical evidence was taken off of Seth or his clothing during the interrogations, and although Seth consented to take a gun residue test, none was ever taken. Seth can be seen on one of the videos volunteering a cheek-swab DNA sample.
Seth talked about others who may have committed the murder, including Brian Tate, a neighbor who feuded with the Techels. Techel told several stories characterizing Tate as mentally unstable and threatening, and even insinuated that Tate had attempted to poison Techel’s dog. Seth also told officers that day that he had never messed with Tate, although the jury knows that isn’t true, because testimony has already been presented that shows Techel orchestrated vandalism on Tate’s property.
When questioned about extramarital affairs that day, Seth admitted to having a texting affair with Rachel McFarland, but downplayed it as harmless and insisted that he ended the texting with McFarland when Lisa found out about it and confronted him. Earlier testimony in the trial proves that Techel’s relationship with McFarland was well beyond harmless texting.
More videos are expected to be presented to the jury today, followed by more testimony from DCI agent Chris Thomas as the Seth Techel murder trial continues at the Henry County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant. Defense attorney Steven Gardner will also get the chance to cross-examine Thomas today.
Techel, charged with the May 26th, 2012 murder of his pregnant wife Lisa Caldwell Techel, was questioned by authorities for nearly six hours on the day his wife was killed. On Tuesday, the jury heard a lot of that questioning and a lot of Seth Techel’s answers.
On the recorded testimony with Wapello County sheriff’s deputy Jeff Layton and DCI agent Thomas, Seth was consistent all along in his story of what happened that morning, contending that someone had shot his wife while he was in the shower. Seth said he then heard a thumping noise in his living room or kitchen area, grabbed his Glock pistol and rushed down the hall to, as he said, “find the killer.” He found the front door wide open and look out from the porch but said he saw no one. He then returned to the bedroom to find Lisa no longer breathing.
No physical evidence was taken off of Seth or his clothing during the interrogations, and although Seth consented to take a gun residue test, none was ever taken. Seth can be seen on one of the videos volunteering a cheek-swab DNA sample.
Seth talked about others who may have committed the murder, including Brian Tate, a neighbor who feuded with the Techels. Techel told several stories characterizing Tate as mentally unstable and threatening, and even insinuated that Tate had attempted to poison Techel’s dog. Seth also told officers that day that he had never messed with Tate, although the jury knows that isn’t true, because testimony has already been presented that shows Techel orchestrated vandalism on Tate’s property.
When questioned about extramarital affairs that day, Seth admitted to having a texting affair with Rachel McFarland, but downplayed it as harmless and insisted that he ended the texting with McFarland when Lisa found out about it and confronted him. Earlier testimony in the trial proves that Techel’s relationship with McFarland was well beyond harmless texting.
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