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WASHINGTON – Tyler Tessier, the man accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend, was a "psychopath" and left behind notes hinting at his suicide, Montgomery County lawyer said Thursday.
During a press conference held in the afternoon, John McCarthy said that Thursday's opening arguments in Tessier's murder trial "would have been a calculation."
"We were stolen this morning to allow the public to know the true nature and details of this crime," McCarthy said of Laura Wallen's murder.
Tessier was charged with first degree murder following the death of Wallen, a teacher from Howard County who disappeared last September. The pair was engaged. Wallen was four months pregnant with Tessier's child when she was shot in the head.
Tessier's body was found shortly before Thursday morning in his cell at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Clarksburg. Warden Susan Malagari stated that Tessier hanged himself with a sheet a few hours before the closing arguments.
The man from Damascus, Maryland, left notes stating that he was planning to commit suicide, McCarthy said. The prosecutor would not give details, citing the ongoing investigation into the death.
McCarthy and his colleagues shared with the reporters some of the evidence he allegedly told the jury on Thursday afternoon.
He added that Tessier had a dual relationship with two women – one for 10 years and one for seven years – and that Tessier "lied to virtually everyone in her life."
"For Tyler Tessier, lying was like breathing," McCarthy said. "He lied about everything. … There are so many stories, lies and changes in what he said in this case.
"It is impossible to catalog all the lies and people to whom he lied to maintain this dual existence, this dual relationship with two particular women, but also others."
Over the years, there have been "collateral casualties," McCarthy said, including the other woman Tessier signed up for when Wallen was killed.
The prosecutor recounted Tessier's reaction when the woman told him that a suspicious Wallen had sent him a text, "seeking an explanation … from woman to woman".
Tessier, the attorney said, texted the woman shortly before Wallen's death, reading, "I could literally kill her for what she did."
McCarthy also detailed a conversation a few days after Wallen's assassination, during which Tessier and some friends discussed someone in a relationship with a violent boyfriend. "If we kill him … there are lots of fields where bodies can be buried in Montgomery County," said Ms. Tessier.
The victim's family was also present at the press conference.
"Our daughter, Laura, was in love and light," said Father Mark Wallen. "… It was a very difficult year for our whole family."
Sister Jen Conti, who had stifling tears, said she was "looking forward to the incredible adventure of motherhood" with her.
And brother-in-law John Conti told reporters that for 10 years, Tessier never showed up at important family events such as birthdays, anniversaries or holidays.
"He held our family for the last time today," Conti said.
See the video of Thursday's press conference below.
Neal Augenstein of WTOP contributed to this report.
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