Mother of slaying victim: Suspect wanted copy help

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — The mother of a 20-year-old man says a woman on trial for killing him called the day before the shooting wanting him to come over to make copies for her computer business.

Mona Wehde testified Monday at Tracey Richter’s first-degree murder trial. Prosecutors say Richter killed Dustin Wehde at her home in Early in northwest Iowa, after forcing him to write a notebook framing her ex-husband.

Mona Wehde was Richter’s real estate agent. Richter called her on Dec. 12, 2001 to talk about a property transaction. Later in the call, Wehde said Richter told her to have Dustin come over because “we have a whole, whole bunch of copies” for him to make. Mona Wehde said her son was a slow worker, but Richter said that was OK.