La Crosse, Wisconsin – Authorities in western Wisconsin say a college professor deliberately murdered his pregnant girlfriend, killed her dog, and then set her home on fire in an attempt to cover up the crime after she refused to have an abortion.
A 38-year-old man, identified as Matthew R. Sierra, is facing multiple felony charges in connection with the death of 27-year-old Alexis Pickett, whose body was discovered inside her burning home in November.
Fire Leads Investigators to Homicide
According to police, the La Crosse Fire Department responded to a house fire around 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 13 at a residence in the 1700 block of Taylor Street. Firefighters arriving at the scene encountered heavy smoke and forced their way into the home.
Inside, crews found Pickett deceased. While the fire initially appeared to be the cause of death, investigators quickly determined something far more serious had occurred.
An autopsy revealed that Pickett’s lungs contained no soot and showed low levels of carbon monoxide, indicating she was already dead before the fire began, according to the criminal complaint.
Dog Also Killed Before Fire
Investigators also found that Pickett’s dog had been killed prior to the blaze. The animal was discovered underneath a toilet, and authorities believe it was deliberately placed there after death.
Based on the findings, police concluded the fire was intentionally set after the killings, making the case an alleged homicide followed by arson rather than a fatal house fire.
Surveillance and Phone Data Tie Suspect to Scene
Surveillance video obtained by detectives shows Sierra arriving at Pickett’s home around 12:45 a.m. on the day of the fire. He was seen leaving approximately two hours later, at a time when smoke alarms inside the home were actively sounding.
Cellphone location data further contradicted Sierra’s account of events. While he told investigators he was at a gas station during the fire, records showed his phone was at Pickett’s residence during the critical timeframe.
Police say this evidence played a key role in identifying him as the primary suspect.
Pregnancy at Center of Dispute
According to authorities, Sierra and Pickett shared one child together, and Pickett was pregnant with their second child at the time of her death.
Investigators allege that Sierra pressured Pickett to have an abortion and threatened to seek custody of their first child if she refused.
A close friend of Pickett told detectives the couple had an unstable relationship and argued frequently over the pregnancy.
“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,” the friend told police, according to court records.
Charges Filed Against Sierra
Sierra has been charged with multiple serious offenses, including:
- First-degree intentional homicide
- First-degree intentional homicide of an unborn child
- Arson
- Mistreatment of animals causing death
He was arrested earlier this week and booked into the La Crosse County Jail, where he is currently being held on a $1 million bond.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 23, according to jail records.
Community and Police Response
La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron praised the work of investigators and emphasized the collaborative effort behind the case.
“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,” Kudron said in a statement. “Our thoughts continue to be with the Pickett family.”
College Places Professor on Leave
Sierra is employed as a mechanical design professor at Western Technical College, according to local reports. Following his arrest, the college confirmed he was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.
No further details about his employment status or length of service have been released.
Case Still Developing
Authorities have not yet publicly disclosed Pickett’s exact cause of death, and investigators say the case remains active as forensic analysis continues.
If convicted, Sierra could face life in prison under Wisconsin law.
Anyone with additional information related to the case is encouraged to contact local law enforcement. Share your experiences in the comments below.
