DEDHAM, Mass. (Court TV) — A Massachusetts doctor accused of killing his wife is facing life in prison if convicted at trial.
Dr. Ingolf Tuerk, 63, is accused of strangling Kathleen McLean, 45, to death in their Dover home in May 2020 and dumping her body in a nearby pond.
FILE – Dr. Ingolf Tuerk appears in court. (Court TV)
Tuerk’s defense has argued in court documents that McLean died during a drunken fight between the two over their relationship. The couple had recently dropped efforts to divorce each other, according to defense filings, and were attempting to reconcile after a tumultuous period that included McLean reporting Tuerk to police for physical abuse and Tuerk’s suspicions that McLean was cheating on him.
Tuerk was a urologist at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston until he was terminated over accusations of fraudulent billing to Medicaid, reported The Associated Press. McLean ran Birch Tree Energy and Healing, an alternative healing service.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 2- 3/28/25
- Jury visited the crime scene in the morning with no audio or video available from court.
- Judge explained the “view” which included a motel, the Tuerk home, and the pond where the victim was found.
- Witness Curt Pfannenstieh testified.
- Neighbor of Harry and Kathleen.
- Received Harry’s text referring to Katie as the devil.
- Curt communicated more with Katie than with Harry.
- He lived alone with his kids and had done Reiki with Katie once.
- Shared time with Katie, Harry, Vanessa, and her husband.
- Discussed Curt and Katie’s socialization with Harry; Curt identified as friends with both.
- Mentioned Harry’s canceled wedding plans and Katie’s upset feelings.
- Harry expressed to Curt he regretted marrying Katie.
- Discussed Katie texting Curt about her sex life and shared flirtatious messages
- Defense inquired about texts revealing Katie’s struggles with her marriage and mentioning infidelity
- Highlighted instances of Katie sending pictures to Curt and questions around their communication while Harry was absent.
- Noted Katie’s text about wanting an annulment shortly after marriage
- Mentioned Harry requesting Curt’s support during COVID and a restraining order situation.
- Concluded with Curt playfully texting Katie about feeling “horny.”
- WATCH: Neighbor Cross-Examined About Racy Texts With Ingolf Tuerk’s Wife
DAY 1- 3/27/25
- The prosecution began their opening statement by reading a text message Tuerk sent a friend, calling his wife a “vindictive devil” who “played us all.” Tuerk was taken to a hospital after authorities found him with injuries during a welfare call. Prosecutors argue Tuerk strangled McLean to death during an argument and sank her body in a pond.
- The defense argues Tuerk grabbed McLean after she smashed a glass over his head, admitting that sinking her body was a “bad move.”
- Vannessa Pettigrew, a friend of McLean, testified about the couple’s relationship timeline. Pettigrew met McLean in 2015, and later became colleagues at the same hospital as Tuerk (referred to as Harry).
- WATCH: Friend Details Relationship Between Ingolf Tuerk & Katie McLean
- Pettigrew testified that she received concerning text messages from Curt Pfannenstiehl and went looking for McLean.
- On cross-examination, the defense focused on instances of McLean monitoring Tuerk’s activities, including tracking him through a phone app and her concerns about him dating others during their separation.
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