From CBS News · Erin Moriarty · · 2m
Iowa son fights to prove his father did not kill his mother with a corn rake
Trysten Mullis, 21, says his father killed his mother by accident, not murder, after 13 years of fighting for justice.
In brief
Trysten Mullis, 21, says his father killed his mother by accident, not murder, after 13 years of fighting for justice. Trysten Mullis, 21, claims his father Todd Mullis murdered his mother Amy Mullis accidentally, not intentionally, after years of fighting for his innocence. Originally reported by CBS News.
Trysten Mullis at the farm
Trysten Mullis, 13, shows Erin Moriarty the hog barn where his mother Amy Mullis died.
“We're at the farm that I grew up on. This is where … me and my brother and sister grew up … these big white buildings here are the hog barns.”
Amy Mullis died in 2018
Amy Mullis died on a November morning in 2018 after falling on a corn rake while cleaning light fixtures.
“She was getting down kind of slow and really grabbing on to the gate … You could kind of see her loopy and swaying a little bit.”
Todd Mullis on trial
Todd Mullis was on trial for murder after Amy Mullis died, but he claimed it was an accident.
“We knew something was not right.”
Medical examiner says homicide
The state medical examiner said Amy Mullis died from a homicide, finding bruising on her jaw and scrapes on her knuckles.
“There were two different directions of the six puncture wounds.”
Todd's motive for murder
Todd Mullis had a motive to kill Amy Mullis after she planned to leave him and was having an affair.
“Her words to me were, "Todd's gonna flip out."”
Todd's Google searches
Todd Mullis had Google searches about killing unfaithful wives, but he denied making them.
“You see searches on … unfaithful wives … and killing cheating wives at different points in history.”
Trysten's testimony
Trysten Mullis, 13, testified that his father was with him the whole time and didn't leave.
“We asked her if she could get it outside of the door.”
Todd's defense sketch
Todd Mullis made a sketch of how he thought Amy Mullis died, but it was later found to be inaccurate.
“I'm thinking at some point Todd and Amy end up in that red barn, and Todd attacks Amy … and … she's hit two or three times with a corn rake.”
Experts say accident
Forensic pathologist Dr. Jennifer Hammers and biomechanical engineer Dr. Valentina Ngai say Amy Mullis died accidentally.
“This does not appear to be a homicide to me.”
The coat evidence
Amy Mullis' coat had fewer holes than the number of puncture wounds on her body, proving it was an accident.
“He was convicted on swinging this rake multiple times into her body. How do you swing a four-tine implement multiple times and have less holes in the outer clothes and more holes in the body?”
Todd's new trial
Todd Mullis is fighting for a new trial after his conviction was overturned by the judge.
“Todd Mullis received a fair trial represented by competent counsel.”
Family reaction
Amy Mullis' family is frustrated that Todd Mullis is still in prison after years of fighting for his innocence.
“We went through all the work … to prove all this.”
The science
The science shows that Todd Mullis did not have enough time to kill Amy Mullis with a corn rake.
“It's impossible. It's a … quite a distance … there's no way it could have been done just on that fact.”
Todd's innocence
Todd Mullis is innocent of murdering his wife, but he is still in prison.
“I know for a fact he didn't do it.”
The fight continues
Trysten Mullis, 21, is fighting for his father's freedom after 13 years of fighting for justice.
“I love you and I'm — I'm fighting every day for you. I'm fighting to get you home.”
The bottom line
Trysten Mullis, 21, claims his father Todd Mullis murdered his mother Amy Mullis accidentally, not intentionally, after years of fighting for his innocence.
