A Wisconsin man allegedly murdered his pregnant on-again, off-again girlfriend and her dog before setting her home on fire, authorities say.
Matthew R. Sierra, 38, faces charges including first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree intentional homicide of an unborn child, arson, and animal cruelty causing death. His alleged victim, 27-year-old Alexis Pickett, was found dead by firefighters who responded to a house fire around 3:30 a.m. on November 13 in the 1700 block of Taylor Street in La Crosse.
According to an autopsy obtained by Law&Crime, Pickett’s body showed no soot in her lungs and low carbon monoxide levels, indicating she was dead before the fire began. Authorities also confirmed her dog had been killed prior to the blaze, with the animal discovered under a toilet.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Sierra arriving at Pickett’s home around 12:45 a.m. that morning and leaving about two hours later, with smoke alarms sounding as he entered his vehicle.
Sierra and Pickett already had a child together, and she was pregnant with their second. Authorities allege Sierra wanted her to have an abortion and threatened to seek custody of their first child if she refused. A friend told investigators, “All I know is that they have been on and off and they have been constantly fighting because he found out she was pregnant with his kid and he didn’t want anything to do with it.”
Sierra claimed he was at a gas station at the time of the fire, but cellphone data reportedly placed him at Pickett’s home.
He was arrested on Tuesday and is being held at the La Crosse County Jail on a $1 million bond. His next court date is scheduled for December 23.
“This has been a very diligent, comprehensive, and strategic investigation in collaboration with the La Crosse Fire Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the Wisconsin State Fire Marshal’s Office,” said La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron. “Our thoughts continue to be with the Pickett family.”
Sierra, who works as a mechanical design professor at Western Technical College, has been placed on administrative leave.
Shows that book knowledge does not make you smart . Professor and he does not know when you play with the pups you get bitten by the fleas.If you do not want a baby them abstain or used precautionary methods.Oh but one is do selfish they want to feel good and do not think about the results.He took two lives .He should be removed permanently
He actually took 3 lives.