The Dateline episode “Before Dawn” investigates the murder of 23-year-old jailer Lisa Caldwell Techel, who was expecting her first child. (It was a girl, and they had named her Zoe long before her due date.) In May 2012, her 23-year-old volunteer firefighter husband Seth Techel (they were married seven months prior) shot Lisa while she was sleeping in bed in their mobile home in Agency, Iowa. He called 911 and claimed an intruder came in while he was in the shower. Prosecutors claim Seth Techel shot his wife to death so he could continue a relationship with a co-worker.
After three trials, Seth Techel was sentenced to life in prison without parole. At his sentencing, Lisa’s mother Tracy Caldwell said: “Seth, I have no doubt that you made sure Lisa could not resist before you took her life. You and I both know that Lisa would have fought to survive, and ultimately would have kicked your ass so she and Zoe could have lived.” Dateline airs Fridays at 9pm on NBC.
