Tyler Tessier Found Dead In Jail Cell: Report

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Authorities said the man facing trial in the death of Wilde Lake teacher Laura Wallen has been found deceased in his jail cell. Tyler Tessier, 33, was charged in the murder of Wallen, his girlfriend who was pregnant at the time of her death a year ago.

After two days of jury selection proceedings, officials were expected to pick jurors Thursday and start opening arguments in the trial.

But the trial will not happen, since Tessier was found dead from an apparent suicide in his cell at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, officials said.

This was the time line of events Thursday morning, according to the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation:

• 4 a.m. Tessier was awakened to prepare for court.
• 4:15 a.m. Tessier finished taking a shower.
• 4:36 a.m. An official doing rounds saw Tessier in his cell, where he had returned to dress.
• 4:45 a.m. Breakfast was served.
• 4:55 a.m. An officer doing rounds found Tessier had tried to take his own life. The officer provided first aid and declared a medical emergency, calling for medical staff to assist in the effort.
• 5:13 a.m. Emergency medical services personnel arrived and took over the life-saving measures.
• 5:32 a.m. Tessier could not be revived.

Just in: Tyler Tessier, on trial in murder of his girlfriend, a Howard Co teacher, found dead in jail cell
Case was in jury selection pic.twitter.com/X3R6EphTCc
— Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) September 6, 2018

During the first day of jury selection on Tuesday, Tessier appeared in the Montgomery County courtroom with a half beard and looked "fidgety," according to WBAL, whose reporter Kate Amara tweeted: "...he was fidgeting so much & rocking in chair he kept bouncing into view."

MORE: Source tells me Tessier recently asked his public defender if he even needed to show up to the three-week trial. The question greatly offended investigators who've been troubled by Tessier's overall demeanor and attitude from the very start. pic.twitter.com/wV2uFovGJe
— Kevin Lewis (@ABC7Kevin) September 6, 2018

The case drew a great deal of media attention because Wallen was pregnant and a beloved teacher at Wilde Lake High School, where she was voted senior class teacher of the year in 2016.

The disappearance of 31-year-old Wallen, who lived in a condo on Rolling Meadows Way in Olney, prompted a search that was widely publicized last September. Her sister reported her missing on Sept. 4, 2017 — Labor Day — and her family grew increasingly concerned when she did not show up the following day for the first day of classes at Wilde Lake High School, where she was a social studies teacher.

Police said that Tessier, the father of her unborn child, provided "conflicting statements regarding Wallen's disappearance" when he was interviewed between Sept. 5 and 11.

There were three places he stayed the week after Wallen was reported missing, according to police, one of which was the home of another woman to whom Tessier was allegedly engaged.

For the week that Wallen was missing, police said Tessier also paid several visits to a Damascus property in the 12400 block of Prices Distillery Road where a farm was surrounded by acres of woods and open fields.

When police searched the area, tire tracks led them to nearby location where they found the body of Wallen on Sept. 13, 2017. She had been shot in the back of the head, officials said.

This is breaking news and will be updated.

RELATED:

• Murder Trial For Tyler Tessier Postponed: Report
• Who Is Tyler Tessier? 9 Things To Know In Columbia Teacher's Murder
• Tyler Tessier Admits He Shot Pregnant Girlfriend Laura Wallen
• 1,000 People Attend Funeral For Laura Wallen
• Slain Teacher Inspires Proposed Change To Maryland Law
• Pregnant Teacher Love Triangle Death: Boyfriend Engaged To Another Woman

Help for Those Considering Suicide

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources to help.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-SUICIDE (or 1-800-784-2433), and its website offers services including a live chat.

Also find resources available around Maryland to help those who are in crisis.

Image via Montgomery County Police Department.