Seth Techel, a 21-year old man from Agency, Iowa has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and the “nonconsensual termination of a human pregnancy.” The victims were his pregnant wife Lisa Techel and their unborn child Zoey Maria. Lisa was 17 weeks along in her pregnancy.
Investigators allege Seth Techel had been romantically involved with another woman. According to the woman, Seth Techel told her that “he was not happy in his marriage” and had told his wife that.
Two weeks before the shooting, authorities allege, he also told the woman “it will all be better in a couple weeks.” Seth Techel denied being involved in the death of Lisa and her unborn child. He also initially denied having an affair, but later admitted to it, authorities said.
Investigators said that so far there is no evidence that Lisa Techel shot herself or that an intruder or another person entered the home at the time of the shooting.
Lisa Techel was a Washington County correctional officer and a reserve Wapello County sheriff’s deputy. Loved ones wrote in an obituary in the Ottumwa Courier, “Lisa loved life. Her energy and smile lit up the room and made her a joy to all of those around. She was loved by all and will be severely missed.”
At 17 weeks, little Zoey Maria had a beating heart and detectable brain waves. She could swim about freely. Her mother would have been able to feel her movements. Zoey had fingernails and her own unique fingerprints. She could wiggle her toes and even make a fist. Studies have shown that some babies are even capable of experiencing pain at this stage of development.
It’s a tragedy that the horrible fate that befell Zoey Maria would be perfectly legal and acceptable to some if circumstances were only slightly different. Unborn children like Zoey Maria at 17 weeks or even later in development meet painful deaths at the hands of abortionists every day in the United States. There is no justice for these children. In fact, rather than extending legal protection, in many cases the government actually funds the deaths of unborn children using public funds.
In Iowa, a conviction for first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence. Nonconsensual termination of a human pregnancy is a Class B felony and the maximum prison time is 25 years.
Wapello County Sheriff Don Kirkendall held a press conference on May 31st to update the media and the public on the status of the case.
