The northwest Iowa mother convicted of lesser charges in the murder of her young daughter is now grasping at a new chance for freedom. Heidi Watkins was convicted of child endangerment in the high-profile case of her daughter’s death — and she’s seeking a new trial. Watkins, of Spirit Lake, says there’s evidence her former live-in boyfriend has confessed to killing two-year-old Shelby Duis. In July, Jesse Wendelsdorf was cleared of sexual abuse and murder charges but reportedly told a new girlfriend he was guilty. Wendelsdorf allegedly made the statements while being tape-recorded.-
