Einhorn Barbarito Criminal Defense Lawyer Matthew Troiano Provides Legal Expertise on “48 Hours“ in an Investigation of “The Corn Rake Murder”

In 2018, Amy Mullis was found face down with a corn rake sticking out of her back on her family’s farm in Earlville, Iowa. The farm tool had four steel tines, but Amy’s back had six puncture wounds. Police began investigating Amy’s husband Todd Mullis, who had learned she was possibly leaving him, but he had an alibi – their 13 year old son.

Jim Axelrod, chief investigative correspondent and senior national correspondent for CBS News, investigated the murder of Amy Mullis for 48 Hours (airdate September 26, 2020) by examining motives and reviewing the evidence, and asked criminal defense lawyer Matthew J. Troiano, of Einhorn Barbarito, for his perspective as a former prosecutor. “This is not a long-distance gunshot,” he said. “This is close and personal…as serious and brutal and violent as it comes.” But was Amy killed by her husband? Or was there reasonable doubt? Troiano reviewed the statements given by the couple’s son Trysten, who had revised his first statement and was no longer an airtight alibi for his father’s whereabouts. Matthew explained that the burden of proof was on the prosecution, and that when the jury began deliberating the case they questioned the lack of witnesses and forensic evidence.

Ultimately, the jury returned a guilty verdict, which Todd Mullis claimed was the result of an unfair trial. His motion for a new trial was recently denied and he was sentenced to life in prison with no opportunity for parole. To read the full story on CBS News, click here.