WASHINGTON — The boyfriend of a pregnant Maryland teacher whose body was found in a shallow grave last month was indicted on a single murder charge Thursday in Montgomery County, according to court records.
Police have said that Tyler Tessier, 33, killed Laura Wallen, who was four months pregnant with his child. Tessier was involved in a romantic relationship with a second woman.
Tessier previously was charged with murder and two other charges related to Wallen’s death and disappearance. Tessier was scheduled to appear in court on those charges Friday.
Prosecutors said previously that it was unlikely that they would seek charges for the death of her unborn child.
Wallen taught at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia. Police believe she was killed on Sept. 3.
“Tyler Tessier is innocent of the charges against him,” Tessier’s lawyer, public defender Allen Wolf, told WTOP by email. “His family and friends know that he is a quiet, peaceful person. Although he has made mistakes in his personal life, he cared deeply about Laura Wallen and never would have physically hurt her.”
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein and Megan Cloherty contributed to this report.
