CASE: Corn Rake K*l.l.er Fights for New Trial After Wife’s Pig Farm Murder
CASE FILE: THE AMY MULLIS H.0.M/I.C/I/DE INVESTIGATION
Corn Rake K*l,.l.e.r Fights for New Trial After Wife’s Pig Farm M*rd*r
Farm Homicide Investigation & Post-Conviction Review Report
Narrative by Detective Brian Coldwel
Delaware County Sheriff’s Office – Major Crimes Division, Iowa
PROLOGUE – THE FARM ACCIDENT THAT BECAME A MURDER CASE
Some homicide investigations begin with a confession.
Others begin with a single question:
Was this really an accident?
On November 10, 2018, emergency dispatchers in Delaware County, Iowa, received a frantic 911 call from farmer Todd Mullis.
His wife, Amy Mullis, had been found unconscious inside their family’s hog farm.
Todd told dispatchers that Amy had fallen onto a corn rake.
He claimed it was a terrible farming accident.
He said he and their teenage son, Tristan, had been working around the farm when they discovered her.
But as investigators examined the scene, the accident theory began to collapse.
Amy was found with a corn rake protruding from her back.
The injuries were unusual.
A farm accident involving a four-pronged rake did not explain the evidence investigators discovered:
Amy had six puncture wounds.
The rake had four prongs.
That meant detectives believed the weapon had been removed and used again.
The investigation quickly turned toward Amy’s husband.
Todd Mullis had been married to Amy for years.
They shared a family.
They ran a farm together.
But investigators uncovered a troubled marriage.
They discovered Amy had previously admitted to an affair.
They found internet searches allegedly connected to topics involving revenge against unfaithful spouses.
Prosecutors argued Todd killed Amy because he believed she was involved with another man.
They claimed he used the corn rake as a weapon and attempted to make the murder appear accidental.
In September 2019, a jury found Todd Mullis guilty of first-degree murder.
He was sentenced to life in prison.
But Todd has never stopped claiming he is innocent.
He insists Amy died in a farming accident.
Years after his conviction, he returned to court seeking a new trial.
His attorneys argued:
His original defense was ineffective
Important expert testimony was not presented
The jury did not hear the full scientific evidence
The accident theory was not properly investigated
The state argued the original trial was fair and that the evidence overwhelmingly proved murder.
The case once again returned to court.
And the central question remained:
Did Todd Mullis murder his wife on their family farm?
Or was a tragic accident misunderstood as a deliberate killing?
CHAPTER 1 – THE MULLIS FAMILY FARM
Todd and Amy Mullis lived in rural Delaware County, Iowa.
Their life centered around farming.
They operated a hog farm.
The family appeared to represent a traditional rural lifestyle:
Farming
Raising children
Managing livestock
Working together
Todd and Amy had children, including their son Tristan.
To outsiders, they appeared to be a normal farming family.
CHAPTER 2 – THE MORNING AMY DIED
On November 10, 2018, Todd contacted emergency services.
His voice was frantic.
He told dispatchers:
His wife was injured.
She had fallen onto a corn rake.
Todd said he attempted to help Amy.
He placed her into his truck and tried to transport her for medical care.
But Amy’s injuries were fatal.
She died before she could be saved.
CHAPTER 3 – THE CORN RAKE AT THE CRIME SCENE
The most important piece of evidence was the farming tool.
The corn rake.
According to investigators:
The rake had four prongs
Amy had six puncture wounds
That created a major problem for the accident explanation.
Detectives believed the rake had been:
- Used to stab Amy
- Removed
- Used again
The injury pattern suggested a deliberate attack.
CHAPTER 4 – THE FIRST SUSPICIONS
Initially, authorities considered Todd’s explanation.
A farm accident was possible.
But investigators began questioning details.
The injuries did not match the story.
The crime scene raised concerns.
The medical evidence suggested something more intentional.
CHAPTER 5 – THE MARRIAGE PROBLEMS
During the investigation, prosecutors examined Todd and Amy’s relationship.
They discovered their marriage had experienced serious problems.
One major issue:
Amy’s previous affair.
Todd testified that he learned about the relationship years earlier.
The couple attempted to move forward.
They went through counseling.
They remained together.
But prosecutors argued Todd never fully recovered from the betrayal.
CHAPTER 6 – THE INTERNET SEARCHES
A major part of the prosecution’s case involved computer searches.
Investigators presented searches they claimed were connected to Todd.
These included topics involving:
Cheating spouses
Punishment for infidelity
Historical responses to unfaithful partners
Prosecutors argued these searches showed anger and motive.
Todd denied making many of the searches.
CHAPTER 7 – THE OTHER RELATIONSHIP
Investigators also examined another possible affair.
They focused on Amy’s relationship with a farm manager named Jerry.
Prosecutors argued Todd discovered information suggesting Amy may have been involved with someone else.
They claimed this discovery created a motive for murder.
CHAPTER 8 – THE DAY ON THE FARM
Todd testified that he, Amy, and their son Tristan were working around the farm.
Amy had recently undergone surgery.
She was still recovering physically.
Witnesses testified that Amy struggled with:
Dizziness
Physical movement
Farm tasks
Todd said he encouraged her to rest.
CHAPTER 9 – THE PET CARRIER DETAIL
One unusual detail involved a pet carrier.
According to testimony, Todd asked Amy to retrieve it.
The prosecution questioned why Todd would ask Amy to perform physical work if she was recovering from surgery.
The defense argued Amy was determined to help and participate.
CHAPTER 10 – TRISTAN’S TESTIMONY
Todd’s son Tristan initially supported his father’s account.
He told investigators he was with Todd.
But later, his testimony changed.
At trial, Tristan acknowledged there were moments when he lost sight of his father.
This became important for prosecutors.
They argued Todd had an opportunity to attack Amy without being seen.
CHAPTER 11 – THE 911 CALL CONTROVERSY
The emergency call became one of the most discussed pieces of evidence.
During the call, prosecutors argued Todd could be heard making a comment about Amy being unfaithful while attempting CPR.
The defense disputed the interpretation.
Some listeners said they could not hear the alleged statement.
Others believed the phrase was audible.
The recording became a major debate during trial and later appeals.
CHAPTER 12 – THE TRIAL OF TODD MULLIS
Todd was charged with:
First-degree murder
Prosecutors argued:
The attack was intentional
The corn rake was used as a weapon
Todd attempted to disguise the murder as an accident
The defense argued:
Amy’s death was a tragic farm accident.
CHAPTER 13 – THE DEFENSE THEORY
Todd testified in his own defense.
He maintained:
He loved Amy
He did not kill her
The death was accidental
The defense argued investigators focused too quickly on Todd.
They suggested other possibilities were not fully explored.
CHAPTER 14 – THE PROSECUTION’S CLOSING ARGUMENT
Prosecutors told jurors:
Amy did not know she was about to be attacked.
They argued Todd used the moment to murder her.
They described the killing as planned.
CHAPTER 15 – THE VERDICT
After approximately seven hours of deliberation:
The jury reached a decision.
Todd Mullis was found:
Guilty of first-degree murder
The conviction ended the initial trial.
CHAPTER 16 – THE SENTENCE
In 2020, Todd Mullis received:
Life imprisonment
He continued to maintain his innocence.
He stated that he believed the justice system failed him.
CHAPTER 17 – TODD’S CLAIM OF INNOCENCE
After conviction, Todd argued:
He never admitted Amy was murdered.
He claimed his defense team made strategic decisions without his approval.
He said he wanted the accident theory presented.
CHAPTER 18 – THE APPEAL FAILURE
Todd appealed his conviction.
However, the appeal was denied.
The conviction remained.
But Todd continued pursuing legal options.
CHAPTER 19 – THE POST-CONVICTION RELIEF REQUEST
Todd filed for post-conviction relief.
This type of legal action argues:
New evidence exists
Trial errors occurred
Legal representation was ineffective
The request was granted for a major hearing.
CHAPTER 20 – THE NEW TRIAL HEARING
The hearing was unusual.
Instead of a short proceeding, it was expected to last approximately 10 days.
Around 40 witnesses were expected.
Todd’s attorneys argued:
New scientific evidence could change the outcome.
CHAPTER 21 – THE DEFENSE’S NEW ARGUMENT
Todd’s attorneys claimed:
The original defense failed to fully investigate the accident theory.
They argued experts could show:
Amy’s death may have been accidental.
They claimed the jury did not hear enough scientific evidence.
CHAPTER 22 – THE ATTORNEY PERFORMANCE QUESTION
One important issue involved Todd’s original lawyers.
His current attorneys argued they were ineffective because they:
Did not present certain experts
Did not fully challenge the prosecution’s theory
Did not explore alternative explanations
CHAPTER 23 – THE STATE’S RESPONSE
Prosecutors rejected Todd’s claims.
They argued:
The original evidence was strong.
The jury had enough information.
The conviction had already survived appeal.
They asked the court to deny a new trial.
CHAPTER 24 – THE CORN RAKE QUESTION RETURNS
At the center of the new hearing remained the same question:
Could Amy’s injuries have happened accidentally?
The defense argued possibilities.
The prosecution argued the injury pattern proved intent.
The corn rake remained the key piece of evidence.
CHAPTER 25 – THE SEARCH HISTORY DEBATE RETURNS
The defense also challenged the internet searches.
They argued:
Other people had access to devices
The searches were not necessarily Todd’s
The evidence was overstated
Prosecutors maintained the searches supported motive.
CHAPTER 26 – THE EXPERT TESTIMONY
The outcome of the hearing depended heavily on experts.
Todd’s defense needed specialists who could explain:
Why the injuries might have been accidental.
The strength of this testimony could determine whether a new trial was possible.
FINAL NOTE – DETECTIVE BRIAN COLDWEL
The Amy Mullis case remains one of Iowa’s most controversial farm homicide investigations.
At the center is a single question:
Accident or murder?
A wife died on a family farm.
Her husband was convicted of killing her.
A jury believed the evidence proved intentional murder.
But years later, Todd Mullis continues fighting to overturn that conviction.
His attorneys argue that science was not fully presented.
Prosecutors argue that the original verdict was correct.
The court must now decide whether the original trial revealed the complete truth.
Because after years of legal battles, one thing remains unchanged:
Amy Mullis lost her life.
And the search for the full truth continues.
CASE STATUS: POST-CONVICTION REVIEW ACTIVE
DEFENDANT: TODD MULLIS
VICTIM: AMY MULLIS
ORIGINAL CONVICTION: FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
SENTENCE: LIFE IMPRISONMENT
KEY EVIDENCE: CORN RAKE / AUTOPSY FINDINGS / INTERNET SEARCHES / 911 CALL / WITNESS TESTIMONY
