Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
UPDATE (WMAL) – Friday 10/13/17 — Tyler Tessier, the man charged with killing his girlfriend will not face an additional murder charge related to the death of the woman’s unborn child.
An autopsy revealed Howard County Teacher Laura Wallen’s unborn baby was 14 weeks old when she was killed, which is too young to be viable outside the womb. Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said since the baby wasn’t viable, Maryland law does not allow him to file additional charges against Tyler Tessier.
McCarthy said there are some laws regarding fetuses, but they do not apply in this case.
“The definition of a person for legal purposes, I understand how sensitive this question is that you’re asking, we are bound to follow the law,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy expects Tessier to go on trial in about four months. The maximum sentence for first degree murder is life in prison, but McCarthy said they will likely pursue a life sentence without parole if Tessier is convicted.
Tessier will be back in court Friday Oct. 20 for a status conference where his trial date will be set.
WASHINGTON (WMAL) Thursday 10/12/17 — The boyfriend of a pregnant Howard County teacher whose body was found in a shallow grave in Damascus in September has been indicted on murder charges.
Tyler Tessier has been held without bond since being charged with killing Wilde Lake High School teacher Laura Wallen in September.
After the Sept. 14 bond hearing, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy told reporters he will wait until the trial to discuss what he believes motivated the killing.
“Obviously there was a triangle going on here,” McCarthy said explaining that Tessier was dating and living with Laura while also engaged to another woman. That engagement, according to court documents, happened after Wallen told Tessier she was pregnant.
“I think there’s obvious conclusions you can reach from those existent facts,” McCarthy said.
Court documents said each woman believed Tessier was dating her exclusively. August 28, Wallen texted Christina Wagoner and asked her for a woman to woman conversation to clear things up.
McCarthy is expected to update reporters on the case Friday.
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