Wisconsin Man Charged with Killing Pregnant Lover Who Declined Abortion

Lecturer in Wisconsin Charged with Murder of Pregnant Mistress

A university lecturer in Wisconsin faces serious accusations following the death of his pregnant mistress, who allegedly was killed because she refused to terminate her pregnancy. Prosecutors in La Crosse County have charged Matt Sierra, 38, with the murder of 27-year-old Alexis Pickett, which took place on November 13. It is also reported that Sierra set fire to her residence, resulting in the death of Pickett’s unborn child as well as her dog.

The initial charges were brought against Sierra on December 17, but a judge dismissed them during a hearing on December 23 after finding them lacking in sufficient evidence. Just a few days later, on December 26, the La Crosse District Attorney’s Office submitted a new complaint, which included 14 additional pages of details, allowing the case to proceed.

The latest complaint alleges that Sierra, who is married, killed Pickett after telling her about her pregnancy. It’s worth noting that the couple already had a two-year-old child together. Reports indicate that Sierra purportedly urged Pickett to have an abortion, which she declined.

In a troubling text that Sierra allegedly sent to Pickett, he stated, “After that, I could barely keep my life together,” referring to their first child, and expressed that he would not be having any more children.

The specifics of how Pickett was killed and how the fire was ignited remain unclear, as the criminal complaint doesn’t reveal those details. However, surveillance footage reportedly shows him exiting her home just as a smoke alarm was activated, with no other individuals present in the vicinity when authorities responded to the fire.

Upon investigation, authorities discovered Pickett deceased in her home, alongside her dog. The fire reportedly erupted the night after she and Sierra had spent time together. During an interview with police, Sierra claimed he left her house between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., but it seems he stayed nearby hoping to hear from her later. Investigators noted that phone records depicted his cellphone being at his own residence throughout the night.

The autopsy report indicated that Pickett died before the fire, as there were no signs of soot or carbon monoxide in her body, though forensic experts noted her cause of death remains difficult to determine due to a lack of clear trauma indicators and extensive damage from the flames.

The amended complaint also features text messages between Sierra and Pickett regarding the pregnancy, revealing tensions between the two. One noteworthy exchange included Sierra stating, “I’m going to do what I think I need to do,” to which Pickett replied, “That sounds like a threat, so tell me what you’re going to do.”

Sierra was employed as an instructor at Western Technical College, but he is no longer listed on the college’s website. The institution has not responded to inquiries regarding the case.

He faces four felony charges, which include first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree intentional homicide of an unborn child, arson, and animal cruelty resulting in death. A preliminary hearing is set for January 5.