Mother testifies in her daugher’s murder trial in Algona

Heidi Watkins’ mother took the stand this morning in Algona. The Spirit Lake woman’s accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Shelby Duis. Francis Moritz testified in her daughter’s defense. Moritz took care of the girl and said some of the bruises on the girl happened at her home, while others happened at the Duis’ daycare center.Defense attorneys are blaming Watkins’ former boyfriend Jesse Wendelsdorf for the girl’s death. Wendelsdorf’s name came up in Moritz’s testimony, as she says she didn’t care for Wendelsdorf. Moritz also testified that Watkins has a difficult childhood that included abuse and alcoholism.Prosecutors planned to call Wendelsdorf to the witness stand today.