10:15 p.m. Update: Arrest made in Techel death

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Seth Techel

10:15 p.m. Update: Arrest made in Techel death

Anonymous Ottumwa Courier The Ottumwa Courier Wed May 30, 2012, 10:16 PM CDT

OTTUMWA — Authorities say they have a suspect in custody in the death of Lisa Techel: Her husband.

Wapello County Sheriff Don Kirkendall told the Courier that Seth Techel, 21, 8723 Fox Hills Rd., Agency, has been taken into custody in the Saturday shooting death of his wife.

Techel was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. He faces a first degree murder charge and a charge of nonconsentual termination of a human pregnancy. The murder charge carries an automatic life sentence. The second charge is a Class B felony with a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

Authorities say Techel will be arraigned and transferred to another county's jail.

Kirkendall said a press conference will take place Thursday afternoon. Lisa Techel's funeral is set for Thursday morning.

Here is the text of the Wapello County Sheriff's Department press release:

Press Release: Seth Andrew Techel

At 8:30pm, Wednesday May 30th, Seth Andrew Techel 21 years old of 8723 Fox Hills Road, Agency Iowa has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of his wife Lisa Marie Techel and her unborn child in the early morning hours of May 26th, 2012. Techel has been charged with Murder in the 1st Degree and Nonconsensual termination of a human pregnancy. Murder in the 1st Degree is a class “A” felony with a maximum penalty of life in prison. Nonconsensual termination of a human pregnancy is a class “B” felony and carries a penalty of 25 years in prison. Techel will be arraigned on the charges and transferred to a neighboring County’s correctional facility. This criminal investigation was the cooperation of the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the State of Iowa Medical Examiners Office.

The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation with conduct a press conference at 1:00pm, Thursday May 31st at the Wapello County Joint Law Enforcement Center.

Please note the following pursuant to recent Supreme Court rulings:

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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