Trysten Mullis, the son of Todd Mullis, is seeking a new trial for his father, who was convicted of murder in the 2018 death of his mother, Amy Mullis. Amy was found impaled with a corn rake on the family’s 400-acre Iowa farm. While Todd and Trysten initially maintained the death was an accident, Todd was convicted in 2019 after a state medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
Prosecutors argued Todd killed his wife because she was having an affair and intended to leave him, fearing he would lose half his land in a divorce. The state medical examiner, Dr. Kelly Kruse, testified that Amy had six puncture wounds despite the rake only having four tines, suggesting she was impaled at least twice. Investigators also cited Google searches on Todd's iPad regarding "killing cheating wives."
Trysten, who was 13 at the time, provided trial testimony that prosecutors used to establish a window of time for the alleged attack. Trysten later claimed in an affidavit that he was pressured by his mother's family members to testify that he lost sight of his father, stating now that he was only away for "a matter of seconds" to get a drink of water. He and his new legal team argue this was not enough time for his father to travel to the shed, commit the act, and return without appearing winded or disheveled.
New defense attorneys Dina and Daniel Nesheiwat have introduced testimony from forensic pathologist Dr. Jennifer Hammers and biomechanical engineer Dr. Valentina Ngai, who concluded the death could have been an accident. They suggest Amy may have tripped in the shed while dizzy from a recent medical procedure, falling onto the rake. They argue the six wounds were caused by Amy struggling to free herself, noting the different directions of the wounds.
Todd Mullis is currently serving a life sentence. The current defense argues the original attorney failed by not presenting the accident theory to the jury. The new experts argue that the original jury was not presented with critical physical facts. A judge must now decide if the new evidence and claims of witness pressure warrant a new trial. The legal team is also challenging the state's motive evidence, noting Todd testified he did not know his wife was having an affair. A specific date for a ruling has not been reported.