Who Was Amy Mullis & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile

Amy Mullis was a 39-year-old mother of three, former emergency room nurse and member of a farming family in rural Iowa whose death on November 10, 2018, became the subject of a murder investigation. She was found with a corn rake embedded in her back inside a storage shed on the family’s hog farm near Earlville. What her husband described as a possible farming accident was ruled a homicide, leading to a trial that exposed the difficulties within their marriage and ended with his conviction for first-degree murder.

Her story returns to national television in the 48 Hours episode “The Corn Rake Witness,” airing Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 9/8c on CBS. Correspondent Erin Moriarty revisits the investigation and the conviction of Amy’s husband, Todd Mullis, through the perspective of their eldest son, Trysten, who discovered his mother when he was 13 years old. Now an adult, Trysten is speaking publicly about his belief that his father was wrongfully convicted.

Behind the criminal investigation was the life of a woman who had worked in healthcare, raised three children and helped operate a family agricultural business. Testimony from her friends revealed a marriage marked by mistrust, restrictions and Amy’s desire for a different future. Her death left a family divided and raised questions about what happened during her final hours.

• “The Corn Rake Witness”: 48 Hours Reports on Amy Mullis Homicide October 17 2026
• Who Is Todd Mullis & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Amy Mullis Was a Mother, Nurse and Member of an Iowa Farming Family

Amy Fuller Mullis was 39 years old when she died. She lived with her husband, Todd Mullis, and their three children, Trysten, Taylor and Wyatt, on a farm near Earlville, a small community in northeastern Iowa. The family operated a substantial hog farming business, and agriculture formed a central part of their daily lives.

Amy had worked as a nurse in the emergency department of a hospital in Manchester, Iowa. Her professional background became part of the investigation after she was taken to the same hospital following her fatal injuries. Dr. Craig Thompson, an emergency physician who later testified at Todd’s murder trial, knew Amy through her work in the department.

Friends described Amy as an outgoing woman who enjoyed social activities and spending time with people. Patricia Christopherson and Terri Staner, two women who knew her, would become important witnesses because Amy had confided in them about her marriage and her personal concerns.

Amy’s life involved responsibilities both inside and outside the family home. In addition to raising three children, she helped with the administrative work required to operate the farm. She handled bookkeeping and assisted with other tasks connected to the livestock business.

Her former nursing career, relationships with friends and responsibilities as a mother formed part of her identity beyond the circumstances of her death. Those who knew her described a woman with interests and ambitions that extended beyond the agricultural operation she shared with Todd.

Amy’s Marriage to Todd Mullis and Their Family Life

Amy and Todd Mullis had built a life around their children and the family farm. Todd was responsible for much of the agricultural work, while Amy contributed through bookkeeping, household responsibilities and work around the property.

Their marriage had experienced serious difficulties before Amy’s death. Investigators learned that she had been involved in an affair approximately five years earlier, an event that damaged Todd’s trust and led the couple to seek counseling.

Following that affair, Amy left her nursing position and began working on the farm. Todd told investigators that the change allowed her to spend more time with the family. Amy’s friends offered a different account, describing the decision as part of an arrangement intended to repair the marriage.

Terri Staner testified that Amy faced restrictions on her social life after leaving the hospital. According to Staner, Todd monitored how long Amy was away from home and which friends she spent time with. She recalled references to an approved list of friends with whom Amy could socialize.

These descriptions came from witness testimony rather than independent findings about every aspect of the marriage. They nevertheless became important to prosecutors, who argued that Todd exercised control over Amy and feared the consequences of losing the relationship.

Todd disputed the suggestion that their marriage was deeply troubled. During a police interview, he described himself as a loving husband and characterized his relationship with Amy as close.

Why Amy Mullis Was Unhappy in Her Marriage

By 2018, Amy was expressing dissatisfaction with her marriage to several friends. Patricia Christopherson testified that Amy had been unhappy for years and had discussed the possibility of ending the relationship.

Friends described differences between Amy and Todd that had become sources of tension. Amy enjoyed spending time with other people and participating in social activities, while Todd devoted much of his attention to the farm and preferred remaining at home.

Terri Staner testified that Amy felt restricted by the conditions of her marriage. She described Amy as feeling like a prisoner because of the limits placed on her activities and the scrutiny she experienced when leaving the property.

The earlier affair remained a source of mistrust. According to Staner, Todd had struggled to rebuild confidence in Amy, despite the couple having attended counseling and remained together.

Amy’s dissatisfaction became significant after her death because prosecutors believed she was considering a divorce. They argued that the prospect of separation threatened Todd’s family life and financial interests.

The farm represented a substantial asset. Prosecutors suggested that divorce proceedings could have divided property and disrupted the business Todd had spent years developing. The potential financial consequences became part of the state’s theory of motive.

Amy Began a Relationship With Farm Manager Jerry Frasher

In May 2018, Amy began an affair with Jerry Frasher, a married father of two who managed the Mullis family’s hog operation. Their professional relationship brought them into contact because Amy handled bookkeeping for the business.

Frasher testified that their relationship became sexual and that they met at the farm, along rural roads and in motel rooms. Their meetings continued over several months.

The relationship appeared to hold considerable emotional significance for Amy. Patricia Christopherson testified that Amy had discussed the possibility of marrying Frasher and building a future with him.

Frasher’s circumstances were different. He was married with children and became concerned about the consequences of the affair being discovered. He testified that he asked Amy to reduce their contact after Todd began questioning their communications.

During the summer of 2018, Todd examined telephone records and discovered extensive contact between Amy and Frasher. Investigators identified 128 text messages exchanged between them. Todd confronted Frasher, who maintained that the communications concerned farm operations and family activities.

Todd also contacted Frasher’s wife. The explanations he received appeared to ease his concerns, but Amy and Frasher continued their relationship.

By late summer, rumors about the affair had circulated among people who knew the family. Amy told Staner that she intended to mention the rumors to Todd and dismiss them as gossip if he heard about them from another source.

Amy Told Friends She Feared Her Husband Might Kill Her

One of the most disturbing aspects of the investigation concerned statements Amy made before her death. Several witnesses testified that she feared what Todd might do if he discovered her affair or learned that she wanted to leave him.

Patricia Christopherson told jurors that Amy had expressed fear about seeking a divorce. According to Christopherson, Amy believed Todd might kill her if he learned about her intentions or the relationship with Frasher.

Frasher described a conversation in which Amy suggested that she might disappear if Todd discovered the affair. His testimony supported the prosecution’s argument that Amy feared the consequences of the relationship becoming known.

Terri Staner recalled a conversation in which Amy identified a wooded area on the family property as a place authorities should search if she went missing. The comment took on particular significance after her death.

Staner also testified that she had warned Amy about the risks associated with continuing the affair. She feared that Todd might react with violence and urged Amy to consider the danger.

These statements were presented as evidence of Amy’s fears and the state of her marriage. They did not establish that Todd had threatened her directly in the circumstances described, nor did they identify an eyewitness to the killing.

The testimony nevertheless gave jurors insight into Amy’s private concerns during the months before her death. It also demonstrated that some of her friends knew she was contemplating major changes to her personal life.

Amy’s Final Days Before November 10, 2018

Four days before her death, Amy underwent an outpatient medical procedure. The specific circumstances of her recovery became important because she experienced dizziness while working on the farm on November 10.

That Saturday was her first time out of the house since the procedure, according to testimony from her son, Trysten. She joined Todd and Trysten inside one of the family’s large hog barns, where they were preparing equipment and completing maintenance work.

Amy was assigned to clean light fixtures. She stood on a five-gallon bucket to reach the bulbs and surrounding fittings, while Todd worked on water equipment and Trysten prepared portable heaters for an expected delivery of piglets.

Trysten testified that his mother complained of dizziness and appeared unsteady. He recalled her holding onto something to avoid falling while standing on the bucket.

Both Todd and Trysten expressed concern about her condition. Amy initially indicated that she could continue working, but another episode of dizziness led Todd to suggest that she return to the house.

Before leaving, Todd asked Amy to retrieve a pet carrier from a red shed near the barn. He explained that he needed the carrier to move kittens before using heavy equipment around the property.

Amy left the barn to complete the task. It was the last time Trysten reported seeing his mother alive.

What Happened to Amy Mullis Inside the Red Shed?

The red storage shed was approximately 30 yards from the front of the hog barn. It contained agricultural equipment, including the corn rake that would become central to the murder investigation.

After Amy left, Todd and Trysten continued working. Approximately 90 minutes passed before they moved to an office area at the front of the barn.

Todd noticed that the pet carrier had not been placed where he had requested. He instructed Trysten to go to the red shed and check on Amy.

The teenager entered the building and found his mother facing downward, with a corn rake protruding from her back. He described her position as being on her hands and knees.

Trysten checked for a pulse and called for his father. Todd arrived and began moving Amy out of the shed. He later explained that he had removed the rake because the doorway was too narrow to carry her through with the implement embedded in her body.

Todd placed Amy in the family truck and began driving toward the hospital, with Trysten in the passenger seat. Amy was positioned across her son during the journey.

Todd called 911 while traveling toward Manchester. Emergency personnel arranged to intercept the vehicle, and Deputy Luke Thomsen reached the family.

Thomsen found Amy unresponsive and without a pulse. He began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but the attempts to save her life were unsuccessful.

Amy was pronounced dead at the hospital where she had once worked. Her three children had lost their mother, and investigators were left to determine how a farming implement had caused her fatal injuries.

The Autopsy Revealed Evidence of a Violent Death

The initial explanation for Amy’s injuries was that she had fallen onto the corn rake after becoming dizzy. Her recent medical procedure and the balance problems observed by Trysten provided a reason for investigators to consider an accident.

Dr. Craig Thompson examined Amy after she was brought to the hospital. He identified six puncture wounds across her back, although the corn rake had only four steel tines.

The discrepancy raised questions about whether a single accidental fall could explain her injuries. Thompson referred the case for further forensic examination.

Dr. Kelly Kruse, a forensic pathologist with the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office, conducted the autopsy. She documented six puncture wounds with two different directions of penetration.

Kruse concluded that Amy had been impaled with the rake at least twice and possibly three times. She also identified blunt force injuries involving Amy’s face, hands and knees.

The medical examiner classified Amy’s death as a homicide. Her findings supported the conclusion that the rake had been used against Amy rather than causing injuries during one accidental fall.

The autopsy became the foundation of the prosecution’s case. It also created a forensic dispute that would continue through Todd’s trial and later post-conviction proceedings.

Investigators Examine the Scene of Amy’s Death

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office investigated the farm after Amy’s death. Deputy Travis Hemesath examined the red shed and searched for evidence that could explain the circumstances of her injuries.

Hemesath testified that he found a small number of blood drops on the shed floor. He did not identify blood markings on nearby equipment that would support a fall involving other objects in the building.

The limited blood evidence became a point of disagreement between the prosecution and defense. Defense experts questioned why an assault involving multiple penetrations with a heavy farming implement had not left more blood in the shed.

Investigators also examined the family’s security camera system. One camera covered part of the area around the red shed, although it did not record the interior.

No footage was recovered from the day Amy died. The system contained recordings from the following day, but there had been a gap in available footage extending back nearly two weeks.

Todd maintained that cats had knocked camera antennas from their positions near a window. He said he restored the equipment after family members asked whether the system might contain footage of Amy’s final movements.

The absence of recordings meant investigators could not reconstruct the events around the shed from video evidence. No eyewitness came forward to describe the fatal attack.

Why Police Suspected Todd Mullis of Killing Amy

As investigators examined Amy’s personal relationships, Todd became the principal suspect. Prosecutors believed he had a motive connected to the affair, the prospect of divorce and the potential financial consequences of a separation.

Investigators also focused on the sequence of events on the day Amy died. Todd had asked her to retrieve the pet carrier from the shed and had directed Trysten to look for her there after a substantial period had passed.

The prosecution argued that Todd’s knowledge of where Amy would be and his opportunity to leave the barn placed him in a position to commit the killing.

Police recovered internet searches from a family iPad concerning infidelity and violence against unfaithful women. Prosecutors argued that the browsing history reflected Todd’s anger and supported the theory that the murder had been planned.

Todd denied conducting the searches. He maintained that other family members used the device and that the records could not establish who had entered the queries.

Investigators also examined Jerry Frasher as a possible suspect because of his relationship with Amy. Frasher said he had been at home in Anamosa with his son on the day of the killing.

His account was supported by his son’s recollection and phone activity associated with the Anamosa area. Investigators concluded that the available evidence did not implicate Frasher.

In February 2019, approximately three months after Amy’s death, Todd was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Amy Mullis’ Life Becomes the Focus of a Murder Trial

Todd’s trial began in September 2019 in Dubuque County. Prosecutor Maureen Hughes introduced Amy to jurors as a 39-year-old woman whose life had been taken from her children, relatives and friends.

The prosecution described Amy’s marriage, her affair with Frasher and the fears she had shared with friends. Hughes argued that Todd killed Amy because he could not accept the possibility of losing his family and farm through divorce.

Friends testified about Amy’s unhappiness and her desire for a different future. Their accounts became part of the prosecution’s attempt to establish why Todd might have wanted to kill her.

The defense challenged the state’s case, emphasizing that no physical evidence directly connected Todd to the attack. His attorney, Gerald Feuerhelm, argued that the prosecution had not established that Todd had sufficient time to reach the shed and kill Amy without being observed.

Amy’s son Trysten became one of the most important witnesses. He testified about his mother’s dizziness, her departure from the barn and his discovery of her injuries.

He also acknowledged that there had been brief periods when he could not see his father while they were working. Prosecutors argued that these gaps created an opportunity for Todd to leave the barn.

Todd took the witness stand and denied killing Amy. He maintained that he did not know who had caused her injuries and that his actions after finding her were intended to obtain medical assistance.

After approximately seven hours of deliberation, the jury found Todd Mullis guilty of first-degree murder.

Todd Mullis Was Sentenced to Life in Prison for Amy’s Murder

Following the verdict, Todd sought a new trial and challenged aspects of the defense presented by his original attorneys. His motions were denied, and the court proceeded to sentencing.

Todd addressed the judge and maintained his innocence. He argued that the prosecution had not proved he was responsible for Amy’s death and objected to what he regarded as an unfair burden to establish his innocence.

The court sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, the mandatory punishment for first-degree murder under Iowa law. He was also ordered to pay $150,000 in victim restitution.

The conviction established Todd’s legal responsibility for Amy’s death, but it did not end the dispute surrounding the evidence. He continued to challenge the verdict and maintained that he had not murdered his wife.

For Amy’s family, the conviction brought a judicial determination of who was responsible for her death. For her children, the outcome meant that their father would remain in prison while they continued their lives without either parent in the family home.

The case attracted national attention through Court TV and 48 Hours, which examined the forensic findings, competing legal arguments and the role of Trysten’s testimony.

A New Forensic Expert Questions How Amy Mullis Died

Years after Todd’s conviction, his attorneys pursued post-conviction relief, arguing that the original trial had been affected by ineffective legal representation.

The case returned to court in 2025, when Todd’s legal team presented testimony from witnesses and experts who questioned aspects of the prosecution’s case.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Jennifer Hammers offered a different interpretation of Amy’s injuries. She agreed that the corn rake caused Amy’s death but concluded that the injuries could have resulted from an accident.

Hammers proposed that Amy fell onto the rake, creating four puncture wounds, and then suffered two additional wounds while attempting to remove the implement and falling against it again.

Her explanation challenged the original conclusion that the number and direction of the wounds established a deliberate attack. It also supported Todd’s longstanding position that Amy’s death could have been accidental.

The opinion did not establish that Amy had fallen onto the rake. It represented an alternative medical interpretation, which Todd’s attorneys argued should have been considered by the original jury.

The court had to determine whether the defense’s handling of the evidence and its decision not to pursue an accidental-death theory amounted to constitutionally ineffective representation.

The Court Upholds Todd Mullis’ Conviction in June 2026

On June 2, 2026, Iowa Judge Laura Parrish rejected Todd Mullis’ request for post-conviction relief. Her 53-page decision addressed more than 100 allegations concerning the performance of his trial attorneys.

Todd argued that his original attorney, Gerald Feuerhelm, had departed from the defense strategy by telling jurors that Amy had been murdered by someone other than Todd rather than maintaining that her death was an accident.

Feuerhelm testified that he did not believe the accidental-fall theory was viable based on the evidence available at the time. The judge concluded that the record did not establish that Todd had made his disagreement with the defense approach known during the trial.

Parrish also considered testimony that Todd had opposed delaying the proceedings for additional investigation. She found that his attorneys had made professional decisions in preparing and presenting his defense.

The court rejected the request for a new trial, leaving the first-degree murder conviction in place. The alternative forensic opinion did not produce a reversal of the verdict.

On June 4, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced the ruling and confirmed that Todd would continue serving his mandatory life sentence without parole.

The decision preserved the legal finding that Amy had been murdered by her husband. Todd continued to maintain his innocence, but his post-conviction challenge had not succeeded.

What Happened to Amy Mullis’ Three Children?

Amy’s death affected her three children, Trysten, Taylor and Wyatt, who were living on the family farm when she was killed. Trysten was 13 and had been working with his parents on the morning of November 10, 2018.

His discovery of Amy in the red shed placed him at the center of the investigation. He witnessed the emergency response, accompanied his father during the attempt to reach the hospital and later testified in the murder trial.

The two younger children were at the family home during the events described at trial. Following Todd’s conviction, the children were placed in the care of Amy’s family, according to CBS News.

Trysten’s experience was particularly difficult because his testimony concerned both the death of his mother and the prosecution of his father. His account of the morning became central to determining whether Todd had an opportunity to commit the crime.

In 2026, Trysten emerged as a public advocate for his father’s innocence. Now 21, he agreed to speak with 48 Hours correspondent Erin Moriarty about the case.

His belief that Todd was wrongfully convicted does not change the legal outcome, but it reveals the continuing impact of Amy’s death on her family eight years after the killing.

Remembering Amy Mullis Beyond the Murder Investigation

Much of the public record concerning Amy Mullis comes from testimony about the final months of her life. Her marriage, affair and fears became evidence in a criminal prosecution, placing private aspects of her relationships before a jury and national television audience.

Those details form only part of her story. Amy was a mother raising three children, a former emergency department nurse and a woman who had maintained friendships while helping operate a family farming business.

Her nursing background connected her to colleagues and patients in the Manchester community. Her friends described her as someone who enjoyed social contact and wanted greater independence in her personal life.

Testimony about her marriage suggested that she was considering substantial changes before her death. Whether those plans would have led to divorce, a new relationship or another path cannot be known.

Amy was 39 when she died. Her children lost the opportunity to grow up with their mother, and her family faced years of criminal proceedings and public attention.

The investigation into her death has continued to generate debate about forensic evidence and the reliability of the conviction. Those disputes remain distinct from the loss experienced by the people who knew her.

How 48 Hours: The Corn Rake Witness Revisits Amy’s Story

The 48 Hours episode “The Corn Rake Witness” returns to Amy Mullis’ death through the account of her eldest son, Trysten. Correspondent Erin Moriarty examines the events of November 10, 2018, the evidence presented against Todd Mullis and the questions that have persisted since the 2019 trial.

Trysten’s first public account introduces the perspective of a person who was present during the events surrounding Amy’s death and whose testimony played a significant role in the prosecution. His belief that his father is innocent contrasts with the jury’s verdict and the court’s subsequent rejection of Todd’s post-conviction claims.

The episode comes after a June 2026 ruling that left Todd’s conviction and life sentence in place. Although a defense expert presented an alternative explanation for Amy’s injuries during the 2025 proceedings, the court did not order a new trial.

Amy Mullis remains at the center of the story. Her death ended the life of a 39-year-old mother, former nurse and member of a rural Iowa community, while the investigation and criminal proceedings transformed the lives of her children and relatives.

48 Hours: “The Corn Rake Witness” airs Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 9/8c on CBS, with streaming availability on Paramount+. The episode examines the murder case, its legal aftermath and the son who continues to question the conviction of his father.

More “The Corn Rake Witness”

• “The Corn Rake Witness”: 48 Hours Reports on Amy Mullis Homicide October 17 2026
• Who Was Amy Mullis & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Todd Mullis & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

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