Digest

The podcast "Small Town Murder Express" delves into the murder of Lisa Caldwell, a pregnant woman found dead in her trailer home in Agency, Iowa. The investigation quickly focuses on her husband, Seth Tetshell, who provides a shifting account of the events leading up to her death, revealing an affair with a coworker, Rachel McFarland. The discovery of the murder weapon, a Mossberg 500 shotgun, on the Tetshell property further implicates Seth. The podcast chronicles the three trials, highlighting the shoddy police work, the emergence of new evidence, and the powerful victim impact statements from Lisa's family. Despite the defense's attempts to point the finger at other potential suspects, including Brian Tate, a neighbor with mental health issues, and Jason Tins, a married jailer with whom Lisa was having an affair, Seth Techel is ultimately found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Murder of Lisa Caldwell in Agency, Iowa

This episode of "Small Town Murder Express" investigates the murder of Lisa Caldwell, a pregnant woman found dead in her trailer home in Agency, Iowa. The investigation focuses on her husband, Seth Tetshell, who becomes the primary suspect.

00:04:01

The Town of Agency, Iowa

The hosts discuss the town of Agency, Iowa, its small population, and its unusual motto: "Agency Nice." They delve into the town's history, including its founding as an Indian agency and the impact of a tornado in 2001.

00:13:12

The Case of Lisa Caldwell and Seth Tetshell

The hosts introduce the case of Lisa Caldwell, a young pregnant woman who was found murdered in her trailer home, and her husband, Seth Tetshell, who becomes the primary suspect.

00:30:14

The Investigation and Trials

The podcast explores the investigation into Lisa's murder, focusing on Seth Tetshell's changing story, the discovery of the murder weapon, and the testimony of key witnesses. It also chronicles the three trials, highlighting the shoddy police work, the emergence of new evidence, and the powerful victim impact statements from Lisa's family.

01:11:01

Seth Techel is Found Guilty

After a four-hour deliberation, the jury in the third trial finds Seth Techel guilty on all charges. The victim impact statements from Lisa's family are particularly powerful, with her father calling Seth a "cold-hearted killer" and her mother saying she had no doubt he made sure Lisa couldn't resist before he shot her.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the unusual motto of the town of Agency, Iowa?

  The town's motto is "Agency Nice," which is a play on the common phrase "Minnesota Nice" and reflects the town's reputation for friendly and welcoming residents.

• What was the nature of the disputes between Seth Tetshell and his neighbor, Brian Tate?

  The disputes involved minor incidents like garbage being thrown back and forth between their properties, rocks being thrown at Tate's house, and feces being dumped on his property.

• What evidence implicated Seth Tetshell in Lisa Caldwell's murder?

  Seth's changing story about his affair with Rachel McFarland, the discovery of the murder weapon (a Mossberg 500 shotgun) on his property, and the testimony of his friends who confirmed his involvement in acts of vandalism against Brian Tate all pointed towards Seth's involvement in Lisa's death.

• What were the key pieces of evidence presented against Seth Techel in the trials?

  The prosecution presented evidence of Seth's affair with Rachel McFarland, including explicit text messages and emails. They also argued that Seth had motive to kill Lisa, as he was unhappy in his marriage and wanted to be with Rachel.

• What were the main arguments made by the defense in the trials?

  The defense argued that the police investigation was shoddy and ignored key evidence, such as the possibility that Brian Tate was the real killer. In the third trial, the defense also presented evidence of Lisa's affair with Jason Tins, arguing that he was a possible suspect.

• What was the outcome of the three trials?

  The first two trials ended in hung juries. The third trial resulted in a guilty verdict on all charges. Seth Techel was sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus 25 years for the death of his unborn child.

Show Notes