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Trials delayed again in Alta Vista infant’s death

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The trials of the parents charged with the death of their infant son in Alta Vista have been postponed again.

The trials of Zachary Paul Koehn and Cheyanne Renae Harris, which were scheduled to begin this week in Chickasaw County District Court, have been pushed back to an undetermined date and location.

Cheyanne Renae Harris and Zachary Paul Koehn
Cheyanne Renae Harris and Zachary Paul Koehn

Court records show District Court Judge Richard Stochl order the continuance of the trial for Harris with a “change of venue to be determined.”

Stochl also ordered Koehn’s trial set for June 11 to be cancelled, and “will be reset when new venue is identified.” Koehn had asked that his trial be moved out of Chickasaw County because of extensive publicity about the case.

Although both trials had been scheduled to start this week, they are currently set to be conducted separately.

The prosecutor, Iowa Assistant Attorney General Denise Timmins, said Koehn’s trial is planned to be held first, and Harris’ trial would be pushed back until after his.

Koehn, 28, and Harris, 21, have pleaded not guilty to charges each of first-degree murder and felony child endangerment resulting in death.

They are charged in the death of their 4-month-old son, Sterling Koehn, who was found dead in a baby swing on Aug. 30, 2017, in an apartment in Alta Vista after Koehn called 911, saying the boy was not responsive.

The two were arrested and charged on Oct. 25, 2017, after an investigation by the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.

A state medical examiner’s report said the child weighed less than 7 pounds and had not had a diaper change, a bath or been removed from the swing seat in more than a week. The examiner determined he died because of denial of critical care.

Harris’ attorney has filed notice with the court that she may use a defense of diminished responsibility or intoxication.

Koehn is being held in the Chickasaw County Jail and Harris is being held in the Bremer County Jail.

 

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