A Wisconsin college instructor is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors say he murdered his pregnant mistress, her unborn child, and her dog, then set her home on fire after she refused to have an abortion. Authorities allege the killing was deliberate and followed months of conflict over the pregnancy.
La Crosse County prosecutors charged Matt Sierra, 38, with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree intentional homicide of an unborn child, arson, and mistreatment of animals causing death. The victim, 27-year-old Alexis Pickett, was found dead inside her burned home on November 13, according to court records cited by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Prosecutors allege Sierra killed Pickett before setting her house ablaze in an attempt to conceal the crime. Pickett was pregnant with Sierra’s child at the time of her death. The two already shared a two-year-old child together, though Sierra was married to another woman.
Charges were initially filed on December 17 but were dismissed after a judge ruled the complaint insufficient. Prosecutors refiled the case on December 26 with a significantly expanded complaint, adding 14 pages of new details. The updated filing allowed the case to move forward.
According to the criminal complaint, Sierra repeatedly pressured Pickett to abort the unborn child, but she refused. Text messages included in the filing reportedly show escalating tension over the pregnancy. In one message, Sierra allegedly wrote, “I told you I’m not having another kid.” In another exchange, he stated, “I’m going to do what I feel I need to do,” which Pickett interpreted as a threat.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows Sierra leaving the area of Pickett’s home at the same time smoke alarms were triggered. Authorities say no other individuals were seen entering or leaving the area before first responders arrived.
Investigators found Pickett’s body inside the home while responding to the fire. Her dog was also discovered dead. An autopsy determined Pickett died before the fire, citing the absence of soot and carbon monoxide in her body. Due to severe fire damage, the medical examiner said determining the exact cause of death would be difficult.
Sierra told police he left Pickett’s home between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. but remained nearby to see if she would contact him. Phone records, however, reportedly placed his device at his own home throughout the night.
A friend of Pickett told investigators the couple had argued frequently over the pregnancy. Prosecutors say the fire occurred the same night the two had spent time together.
Sierra was employed as an instructor at Western Technical College at the time of the incident but has since been removed from the school’s staff directory. The college did not immediately respond to media inquiries.
Sierra remains in custody at the La Crosse County Jail with bail set at $1 million. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on January 5. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.
The case has renewed scrutiny over violence against pregnant women and unborn children, particularly in situations involving pressure to abort. Prosecutors have not indicated whether additional charges could be forthcoming.
