A third trial for a southeast Iowa man charged with first-degree murder has been scheduled for this summer. Twenty-three-year-old Seth Techel is accused of shooting his pregnant wife, Lisa Techel, as she was sleeping in the rural Agency home in May 2012. Techel is also charged in the death of the unborn child.
Prosecutors have claimed Techel was having an affair and wanted to avoid paying child support. Defense attorneys have claimed an intruder may’ve killed Lisa Techel. Last year, trials in Mount Pleasant and Ottumwa both ended in mistrials as jurors were unable to reach unanimous verdicts. On Wednesday, a judge scheduled Techel’s third trial to begin on July 14 in Davenport.
The judge also rejected a request to lower Techel’s bond to $75,000. Bond will remain at $750,000.