Key witness reaches plea deal in Rudy case

By Matt Ollwerther- Marshfield News-Herald

NEILLSVILLE -- A key witness in the Shaun Rudy murder and dismemberment case has reached a plea bargain.

Heather Teschler, who authorities say was one part of a love triangle, will provide full and truthful information about Rudy, according to the agreement.

She pleaded not guilty to resisting or obstructing an officer during an initial appearance in Clark County Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Teschler, 18, of Thorp will cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for immunity that would protect her from any further prosecution relating to her testimony, as long as she's truthful.

She was charged Friday with harboring or aiding a felon, party to a crime, which is a felony, and a misdemeanor of resisting or obstructing an officer.

The plea deal was reached between Teschler's lawyer and Clark County District Attorney Darwin Zwieg.

Under the agreement, a plea on the harboring or aiding a felon charge likely would be delayed for a year. On the resisting or obstructing an officer charge, Teschler would be placed on probation for one year.

She also may face nine months of jail time.

Both sides are free to argue for the amount of jail time Teschler would receive, but her attorney, Robert Thorson of Chippewa Falls, suggested Zwieg would recommend the nine months.

Teschler was with Shaun Rudy, 23, of Thorp when his wife, Christine Rudy, 21, was killed, prosecutors claim. Shaun Rudy was charged Friday with two counts of homicide -- his wife and her fetus -- and mutilating a corpse.

He shot Christine on Nov. 12, cut up her off body and threw her remains from the Cobban Bridge over the Chippewa River a day or two later, prosecutors claim. They say Teschler watched as Rudy cut up his wife, and was with him as he tossed her body in a river.

Rudy said he wanted to get rid of his wife, so he and Teschler could spend more time with each other, according to a criminal complaint.

Christine Rudy was six months pregnant at the time of her death.

On Tuesday, Clark County Judge Jon Counsell granted a request by William Poss, Shaun Rudy's public defender, to withdraw as Rudy's lawyer due to an ethical conflict.

Teschler also faces a felony burglary charge in Clayton County, Iowa, where authorities said she and the Rudys entered a home and stole a rifle and two shotguns, including one investigators say was used to kill Christine Rudy.

Christine Rudy may have stayed in their vehicle while her husband and Teschler took items, further investigation revealed.

A pre-trial conference for Teschler's Clark County charges was scheduled for April 11 and a status conference on April 19. She's being held on a $10,000 cash bail assigned at her Wednesday appearance.

Teschler remains in the Taylor County Jail.

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