LE MARS Prosecutors will begin presenting their case today against a former Alta Vista woman charged in the death of her infant son in August 2017. Apre-trial services document reveals that Zachary Koehn is a road truck driver who just began a new job. They took her the night we lost Sterling never got to say goodbye, the text reads. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Prosecutors graphically described the infant's final days as flies laid eggs on him that hatched into maggots. Sentencing will be at a later date. Cheyanne Harris, 21, and Zachary Koehn, 28, were taken into custody on Wednesday. A medical examiner said the baby died of malnutrition, dehydration and infection from diaper rash after stool in the diaper eroded the skin. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. During the period between Sterlings death in August and up until October 24, Koehn was an active contributor to Facebook and posted many things publicly. OHara said he could competently say Harris likely suffered from depression. Department of Human Services worker Sheila Schroeder testifies Wednesday at the Zachary Koehn murder trial. It was an extremely difficult case for anybody to observe, Timmins said. Defense attorney Les Blair III, left, talks with Zachary Koehn during trial on Nov. 1. First published on October 27, 2017 / 11:42 AM. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. But I told him, No, people do that all the time. The guardianship of his then 3-year-old fell in the hands of the childs grandparents, Willis and Marilyn Koehn. An award-winning journalist who has worked forRolling Stone and MTV News, Chris enjoys prog rock, cycling, Marvel movies, IPAs, and roller coasters. Documents show for Zachary Koehn, being a parent was nothing new. When Channel 13 requested to speak to them over the phone, they hung up. Tonight on Prime Crime: The incredibly disturbing death of 4-month-old Sterling Koehn, who was found in unthinkable conditions. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? JEFF REINITZ, COURIER STAFF WRITER 013119jr-cheyanne-harris. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Cheyanne Harris and Zachary Koehn are the parents of a 4-month-old baby boy, Sterling Koehn.. . Waterloo Courier MOUNT PLEASANT Jurors heard from Zachary Paul Koehn's relatives Thursday afternoon. At the time of the autopsy it was learned that the infant had died at a weight of 3152 grams (under seven pounds) and was 35.5 centimeters in length (14 inches). Zachary Koehn's 4-month-old son had been wearing the same soiled diaper for up to two weeks when he was found dead in a decrepit swing, covered in bugs, Assistant Iowa Attorney General Coleman McAllister told jurors. Zachary Koehn is led out of the Henry County Courthouse after he was found guilty of murder and child endangerment Tuesday. Zachary Koehn, center, stands with his attorneys as the verdict was read Tuesday in the Henry County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant. Horrific Family Tragedies When Parents Lost Control, John Jonchuck Convicted of Murder For Dropping Daughter Off Bridge, But I told him, No, people do that all the time. I think its devastating. The investigation took over two months and the parents account of the death of the child was inconsistent with the findings of the autopsy and investigation. The complaint states: On arrival it was confirmed that Sterling Daniel Koehn had died. Zachary Koehn, center, is flanked by attorneys Les Blair III and Steven Drahozal during the first day of testimony in his first-degree murder trial in Henry County Tuesday. ZachKoehn began using drugs as a teenager, Danny Koehn said. On August 30th, 2017, four-month-old Sterling Koehn died due to neglect from his parents, Zachary Koehn and Cheyanne Harris. The newspaper also reports that court records state Koehn and Harris have a history of methamphetamine use, but no run-ins with local law enforcement or criminal convictions in the state of Iowa. Judge Richard Stochl, left, talks with Assistant Attorney General Denise Timmins during trial for Zachary Koehn on Tuesday. Zachary Paul Koehn, the father who caused the death of his malnourished and dehydrated newborn son after a severe case of diaper rash turned into a raging infection and maggot infestation two summers ago, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. Reynolds believes this is what led to the tragedy, and said she knew he killed Sterling when she heard the news, because she was aware of his current circumstances. If you want to plan the perfect spring picnic, food and drink are important, but its certainly not the only factor to consider. BEGIN:VCARD Timmins said she couldnt explain why Sterling died, but she said possibilities could be Koehn didnt want the baby or he suspected the baby wasnt his. They come to prison to pray for prisoners,' " Danny Koehn said. " The wound that resulted from the diaper rash then became infected with E. coli, he said. The couple's cash bond was set at $100,000, and they . Neither parent had a serious criminal history before their arrestsalthough ZachKoehn was charged with theft for turning on the water to his home in Riceville when it was shut off for an unpaid bill, court records show. She says there are a number of programs they offer to parents with newborns to ensure their health. had discussed Sterling's death with USA Today. . She says she was also being treated for PTSD. This spring, Le Creuset has introduced an exciting new shade thats already selling fast: shallot, a soft lavender with pink and slight gray undertones. The babys autopsy shows he died of malnutrition, dehydration and an E. coli infection caused by being left in a maggot-infested nappy in a swing for up to two weeks. Sterling Koehn was found decomposing in his swing, say police . I grew up in a big city and you see this, but in a small town it hurts more. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. ORG:Rochester Regional Health The infant was "rotting", and a medical examiner found maggots in his clothing and skin. Sterling Koehn was found rotting and bleeding from the mouth in a stifling apartment bedroom on August 30, 2017, in Chickasaw County. He weighed less than seven pounds, reports the Des Moines Register. According to the Des Moines Register, the baby was discovered to have not been taken out of the baby seat in at least one week. Being a father myself, there is no (expletive) way to explain it.. McAllister argued that Koehn is an experienced parent, as proven by his 2-year-old daughter, who had been at the home during the time the baby was being fatally neglected. Timmins pointed out Koehn, who she said used $140 to $280 per week worth of methamphetamine, had been supplying Harris with meth. MOUNT PLEASANT Zachary Paul Koehn took the stand Friday to challenge charges he is responsible for his infant sons death from neglect in 2017. Sterlings body was found to have maggots in various stages of development in his clothing and on his skin. Pretrial conference for Zachary Koehn in Chickasaw County District Court in New Hampton on Tuesday. And the Child Death Review Team, operating out of the Iowa State Medical Examiners Office, showed that caregivers involved in drug use or altercations mostly caused the seven homicides they investigated in 2013. The facts of this case go far beyond neglect and show circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life. Sterlings death comes amid a surge in child deaths in Iowa. Willis Koehn, Zachary Koehn's father, left, answers questions from Assistant Attorney General Denise Timmins during trial on Nov. 1, 2018. However, it took the jury less than an hour to convict Koehn. Three other neighbors also said they rarely saw the couple. Zachary Paul Koehn enters the courtroom for a conference Tuesday. The couple had an older daughter as well, who was found to be in good health when law enforcement arrived at the apartment. Officials have said Koehn's son, Sterling, was found dead in his parents' Alta . 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. NEW HAMPTON A former Alta Vista man who was convicted in the neglect death of his infant son is asking for a new trial. When the boy's body was found . "But mainly we felt we needed to do something for this baby.". To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. A public defender said that while the baby's death was a tragedy, it wasn't a planned murder, as Harris suffered from postpartum depression, but didn't intend harming her boy. Horrific Family Tragedies When Parents Lost Control, John Jonchuck Convicted of Murder For Dropping Daughter Off Bridge. The daughter had apparently slept in the same room with her parents, while 4-month-old Sterling was found in a room on his own. In town, the outrage was still fresh. Horrific Family Tragedies When Parents Lost Control. When emergency responders found the dead bodyafter Koehn had called 911 to report his son had died from sudden infant death syndrome blood was coming out of his mouth, his fists were clenched and his eyes were open. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Our leading medical education and research are at the forefront of healthcare innovation. Zachary Paul Koehn, 29, of Alta Vista, was convicted in under two hours and received a mandatory prison sentence of life without parole for the child endangerment that caused the death of. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. That's right, diaper rash.". It took a Henry County jury of seven women and five men less than an hour of deliberations Tuesday to convict Zachary Paul Koehn, 29, of first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. ADes Moines Registerinvestigation earlier this year showed that 11 children died in 2016 from suspected abuse. It hurt because I can see all their Facebook activity, and they wanted sympathy from everyone. Father Mark Murphy of St. Bernards Catholic Church here said he doesnt know if any message will help citizens feel better, but gathering together to say goodbye to the child will. The couples bond was set at $100,000 cash only and a conviction of first-degree murder charges comes with a mandatory life sentence in Iowa. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Danny Koehn, Zachary Koehn's brother, testifies during trial on Nov. 1, 2018. When she moved his blanket, gnats flew up, she said. Zachary Koehn was found guilty Tuesday of murder and child endangerment after prosecutors said he left the small boy to die alone in room wearing a diaper filled with feces, that would eat through his skin allowing E. coli to enter the baby's blood stream and cause an infection, according to the Des Moines Register. Mommy gets to see her Tuesday and then they decide when we get have regular visits and how often ?, he wrote in the comments. #ZacharyKoehn - Today is day 2 in the murder trial of Zachary Koehn. Zachary Koehn is led out of the Henry County Courthouse after he was found guilty of murder and child endangerment. Baby found rotting in swing; parents charged with murder, Mother worried about deportation drowns infant, 5-year-old, police say, Child dies after 325-pound adult sat on her as punishment, Iowa couple gets $3.25M after adopted son killed by birth father, Father livestreams killing of infant daughter on Facebook Live, Man says he killed stepdaughter because 'it wasn't dinner time', Detroit mother ran over, killed her 10-month-old, Mom breastfed baby, then left her to die on beach, Man charged in death of 19-month-old in oven, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "Hopefully, we can bring awareness to child abuse and neglect," she said. Dr. Dennis Klein, Iowa chief medical examiner, center, talks with Denise Timmins and Coleman McAllister with the Iowa Attorney Generals Office during a break in the murder trial of Zachary Koehn, 29, charged with the death of his 4-month-old son, Sterling Koehn, in Alta Vista, in 2017. On Aug. 30, Zachary Koehn called the police and said that he found his 4-month-old son Sterling Koehn dead. Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. He said Zachary Koehn then. Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. He did have concerns about the child being taken care of while he was gone," Danny Koehn said. According to The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Deputies said they were assisted Wednesday in locating the couple by deputies in Mitchell and Fayette counties, as well as the Charles City Police Department., Daniel Wenzek: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Zachary Koehn, left, listens to testimony with defense attorney Steven Drahozal Tuesday in his first-degree murder trial in Henry County. Find the residency program, fellowship, or training program that's right for you, or explore our research and clinic trials. Iowa's state medical examiner ruled the cause of death as a failure to provide critical care. ALTA VISTA, Iowa Neighbors of the little boy found dead in a baby swing say they heard about his August death but that details were "hush hush," reports CBS affiliate KIMT. Its sick," Haar said angrily. Nurse and first responder Toni Friedrich testifies in the trial of Zachary Koehn on Tuesday. Zachary Koehn, 29, is handcuffed after he was found guilty of murder and child endangerment Tuesday. When the boys body was found August 30, Sterling Daniel Koehn weighed less than seven pounds, had maggots in different stages of development throughout his body, and was in a diaper that authorities say hadnt been changed in a week, according to court documents. Harris, who moved in with her mother in Riceville, Iowa, after Sterling's death,is also is being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder. Four-month-old Sterling was found dead in a swing seat in a stuffy back bedroom of the Alta Vista apartment where his parents, Zachary Koehn and Cheyanne Harris, lived on Aug. 30, 2017. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Michael O'Hara, a psychology professor with the University of Iowa who specializes in postpartum depression, wasn't able to examine Harris but testified that she had most likely suffered from depression before the baby's death. McAllister told jurors the baby had been wearing the same soiled diaper for between nine and 14 days, leading to insects laying eggs on its body and maggots to develop. URL;TYPE=work:https://www.rochesterregional.orghttps://www.rochesterregional.org:443/physician-directory/k/koehn-zachary Zachary Koehn, 29, of Alta Vista, testified on his own behalf Nov. 2 in Henry County District Court in Mount Pleasant. Zachary Paul Koehn entered the courtroom for a pretrial hearing on Tuesday. A screenshot was provided to Heavy and it is thought that Harris gave birth to Sterling at home: A screenshot stating Harris had the baby in a bathtub.. A lot of crying being done and feeling sorry, said Fran Boehmer, who works at the public library. Cheyanne and their older child slept. Zachary Koehn exits the courtroom following a pretrial conference in Chickasaw County District Court in New Hampton on Tuesday. Koehns attorney asked jurors to find him not guilty, saying he had been working to provide for his family and hadnt noticed signs Harris may have been suffering from depression, which kept her from caring for the baby. You can cancel at any time. Prosecutor Coleman McAllister delivers openings on Tuesday. Although it was a Chickasaw County case, Koehns trial was moved to the Henry County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant because of pretrial publicity. Koehn and Harris have both been charged with murder and child endangerment resulting in death. Trial for Koehns girlfriend and mother of the child, 21-year-old Cheyanne Harris, is pending. Reports indicate that Cheyanne's son, four-month old Sterling Koehn, was found in his swing in a bedroom, where he had died from malnutrition, dehydration and an E. coli infection. Cheyanne Harris & Zachary Koehn, parents that neglected their newborn child beyond belief. Medical Examiner Dennis Klein testified Thursday. According to The Courier, the Mitchell County Attorneys Office asked the court to find him in contempt because he hadnt been making payments on the agreement., Zachary Koehn & Cheyanne Harris: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. MOUNT PLEASANT Jurors heard from Zachary Paul Koehns relatives Thursday afternoon as his attorneys began presenting evidence to defend agai. ZachKoehn got a job driving trucks and told his brother that he frequently was gone for days at a time. Zachary Koehn enters the courtroom on Tuesday. Assistant Iowa Attorney General Coleman McAllister told jurors that29-year-old Zachary Paul Koehn, who is charged with murder and child endangerment in the death of infant Sterling Koehn, was "not an accident," according to the Des Moines Register, a Des Moines, Iowa-based news organization. They have an 11-month-old child and knew the couple also had a baby but never saw the child nor the father. Reynolds described Harris as unstable. Zachary Koehn, center, shakes hands with defense attorney Les Blair III, right, following sentencing. "He died of diaper rash. Find the location that's most convenient for you! "This is a mandatory sentence. Accepting New Patients Sterling's father, Zachary Koehn, also was sentenced to life following a murder conviction in 2018. . 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The cause of death has been ruled a homicide, and the manner of death was failure to provide critical care, according to court papers. The candle is light in the darkness, he said. He did have concerns about the child being taken care of while he was gone," Danny Koehn said. Authorities believe Sterling, who weighed less than five pounds at death, was left in the baby swing for over a week, and that he was not bathed or changed that entire time. The State Medical Examiner has ruled the death a Homicide. Judge Richard Stochl during a pretrial conference for Zachary Koehn on Tuesday. Iowa Parents Charged in Death of Baby Allegedly Left in Swing for Days. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. "He let Sterling rot in that room," Assistant Attorney General Denise Timmins told jurors, according to The Register. For customer service and billing assistance, please give us a call at (585) 922-5465. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Cheyanne Harris is charged with murder in the death of her 4-month-old son, whose maggot-infested body was found in a baby swing in the family's home. Although it was later confirmed he was the biological father, relatives said Koehn had told them he wasnt sure because Sterling had a lighter complexion. Harris appeared to have commented using Koehns page on the same photo. So Im not saying hes innocent., He told me, I think the public realizes Im not as bad a person as they think,'" Danny continued. Others are seeking ways to makesense of something so hard to understand. The document also states Kaden was a typical 3-year-old and in good mental and physical condition. FN:Zachary A Koehn, DO She is standing trial for the neglect death of her 4-month-old baby, Sterling Koehn, in August 2018 while living in Alta Vista. We have joined you, one person commented. Koehn took the stand in his own defense last week and told jurors he trusted the wrong person to care for his son. Powered by. The baby's father, 29-year-old Zachary Paul Koehn, is charged with murder and child endangerment. Iowa law does not require parents to bring infants back to the hospital even though Sterling, at seven pounds, was well below the fifth percentile for a four-month-old. You have permission to edit this article. ALTA VISTA The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the termination of Cheyanne Harris parental rights to her daughter in a decision issued Wednesday. Zachary Koehn, the father, was also sentenced to life in prison. The family moved to Alta Vista sometime after Sterlings birth, Danny Koehn said.
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