who is zachary paul koehns attorney

by Isac Donnelly 8 min read

Defense attorney Steven Drahozal argued that evidence didn't back the murder charge because there were no actions Koehn took that led to the child's death.Dec 4, 2018

Full Answer

How many years did Cheyanne Harris get?

The infant's diaper and clothing were soaked through with urine and feces and infested with flies and maggots, and prosecutors believe the child had been left in the swing for 10 to 14 days before his death of malnourishment, dehydration and infection. Koehn and Harris both were sentenced to life in prison.

What happen to baby sterling?

Sterling was found dead on a mechanical swing, weighing less than seven pounds, in the couple's apartment in Alta Vista, a small city in northeast Iowa. Feces in his diaper ate through his skin, allowing E. coli bacteria to enter his bloodstream and cause infection.

Did Cheyanne Jessie get the death penalty?

The jury voted 10-2 on the question of the death sentence for the slaying of Mark Weekly. The lack of a unanimous vote led to the life sentence. They were, however, unanimous in their vote regarding Meredith's murder. There will still be a series of hearings prior to the judge issuing a sentence for Jessie.

Did Cheyanne Harris testify?

Cheyanne Harris is showing listening to testimony in her first-degree murder trial Friday in Plymouth County District Court in Le Mars.

What happened to Zachary Koehn?

Zachary Koehn and Cheyanne Harris of Alta Vista, Iowa, were arrested October 25 on charges of first-degree murder and felony child endangerment causing death. When the boy’s body was found August 30, Sterling Daniel Koehn weighed less than seven pounds, had maggots in different stages of development throughout his body, and was in a diaper that authorities say hadn’t been changed in a week, according to court documents. Authorities brought the charges against Koehn and Harris after a lengthy investigation.

How long was the baby in the same seat?

Here’s what you need to know: 1. A Study of the Maggots Found on the Baby’s Body Showed He Had Been in the Same Seat for More Than a Week. Chickasaw Zachary Koehn and Cheyanne Harris. Police described the baby’s tragic death in the criminal complaint. The investigation took over two months and “the parents’ account of the death ...

What was the Koehn arrest?

According to court records, Koehn was arrested in 2016 on second-degree theft charges of bypassing a water meter to his mobile home in Riceville.

How much was the bond for Koehn and Harris?

Authorities brought the charges against Koehn and Harris after a lengthy investigation. The couple’s bond was set at $100,000 cash only and a conviction of first-degree murder charges comes with a mandatory life sentence in Iowa.

When was Sterling Daniel Koehn born?

Cheyanne and their older child slept. Sterling Daniel Koehn was born May 1, 2017. In subsequent statements made by Zachary Koehn and Cheyanne Harris they claimed Sterling had actually been checked on last the previous day (August 29, 2017). On the morning of August 31, 2017, the body of Sterling Daniel Koehn underwent an autopsy at ...

How much did the baby die at the time of the autopsy?

At the time of the autopsy it was learned that the infant had died at a weight of 3152 grams (under seven pounds) and was 35.5 centimeters in length (14 inches). Both these measurements placed the infant at well below the 5th percentile in size and weight.

What was Sterling's body found to have?

Sterling’s body was found to have maggots in various stages of development in his clothing and on his skin. Identification and study of the maggots found on the body was conducted by a Forensic Entomologist and used to provide a time line.

How old was Sterling's diaper?

Timothy Huntington, a forensic entomologist, told jurors the developmental stage of the maggots found on Sterling’s clothing couldn’t point to a time of death but indicated Sterling’s diaper and its contents were about nine to 13 days old given the estimated temperature at the time.

What are scuttle flies?

Scuttle flies — small, brown insects common ly found with garbage — had been drawn to the odor of the dirty diaper and fed on the stool and other bodily fluids inside — not on the child’s flesh, he said. “You don’t find these flies laying eggs and growing and evolving in sanitary conditions. ...

How much did Sterling weigh at his autopsy?

“Nothing natural would have done this,” Klein said. Sterling weighed just under 7 pounds at autopsy and had only gained 150 grams — just a few ounces — since birth.

What did the small size of Sterling's thymus show?

The small size of the child’s thymus — a gland in the chest — showed he was under ongoing stress. Klein said the diaper Sterling had been wearing had been on for a “prolonged period of time,” long enough for the fly eggs to hatch into maggots. He said it was likely the maggots were present while the baby was still alive.

Why did Willis Koehn move to Oklahoma?

He transferred custody to his parents because alleged mental health issues with his then-wife — not Harris — meant she couldn’t care for the child . Willis Koehn later moved to Oklahoma, and an older brother, Danny Koehn, moved to Mississippi. Zachary Koehn met Harris in 2014, according to testimony.

How did Sterling Koehn die?

Aug. 30, 2017, and found 4-month-old Sterling Koehn dead in a baby swing. Authorities said Sterling died of neglect. Zachary Koehn was originally from California. He was adopted by a Mennonite family that began caring for him when he was an infant.

What did Klein show in the photos of the baby?

Klein went through photos that showed the condition of the baby’s body as he removed layers of urine-soaked blankets and clothing that had been stuffed in the feces-stained seat. He showed where maggots had hatched on the fabric after being laid by flies attracted by the stool.

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