Judge Unlikely to Allow Jurors to Visit Slain Teacher’s Burial Site

In a motions hearing ahead of the murder trial of a pregnant school teacher who went missing, and found days later in a shallow grave, prosecutors argued that the best way for jurors to link her alleged killer to the crime is by a visiting the site where her body was found.

Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy presented this argument in the State’s case against Tyler Tessier, 33, who has been charged with first-degree murder of Laura Wallen.

The State argued that pictures and video would not fully convey the isolated site where Wallen’s body was found.  According to prosecutors, Wallen was shot in the back of the head, and then buried on a rural site near on Price’s Distillery Road in Damascus.

“In my 38 years here, I have never asked the jury to go to a site,” McCarthy stated in court. “This is relevant for two reasons. It proves identity and pre-meditation.”

McCarthy argued that an outside courtroom visit would show the remoteness and topography of the location to render an appropriate verdict in this case.

Judge Mason, however, was not persuaded by the State’s reasons for an outside visit because of potential logistical problems. He did not rule out a visit completely. Mason said prosecutors could re-visit this issue following evidence presented during the 10-day trail scheduled for Sept. 4.

Hear more in the video below:

About Mitti Hicks

Mitti Hicks is a multimedia journalist and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She is passionate about telling stories that impact our community and may be reached at MHicks@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter @mittimegan.

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