# 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. - Title: Iowa son fights to prove his father did not kill his mother… - Summary: 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… - Keywords: trysten mullis, todd mullis, amy mullis, iowa, corn rake, murder trial, forensic pathologist, biomechanical engineer, new trial, juvenile detention, iowa division of criminal investigation, 48 hours - Source: CBS News — https://cbsnews.com/news/amy-mullis-todd-mullis-iowa-corn-rake-witness-48-hours - Author: Erin Moriarty - Published: 2026-10-18T05:05:01+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: trysten mullis, todd mullis, amy mullis, iowa, corn rake, murder trial, forensic pathologist, biomechanical engineer, new trial, juvenile detention, iowa division of criminal investigation, 48 hours ## 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. ## Key takeaway Trysten Mullis, 21, claims his father Todd Mullis murdered his mother Amy Mullis accidentally, not intentionally, after years of fighting for his innocence.