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| Trysten Mullis: Where Is Amy Mullis’ Son Now? |
Trysten Mullis was just 13 when he discovered his mother, Amy Mullis, dead in a shed on the family farm in Earlville, Iowa. Years later, his life remains closely connected to the case that devastated his family, particularly after his father, Todd Mullis, was convicted of her death. Now, Trysten is speaking publicly about the tragedy through CBS’ 48 Hours, maintaining that his father did not commit the crime and questioning the conviction that sent him to prison for life. Away from the courtroom, Trysten has also pursued his interest in American football, although he has largely kept his personal life private.
The case received renewed attention through 48 Hours episodes titled Corn Rake Murder and The Corn Rake Witness. The latter featured an interview with Trysten, offering a rare glimpse into the perspective of a young man who lost his mother in deeply distressing circumstances and later found himself at the centre of a criminal case involving his own father.
Trysten Mullis Discovered His Mother’s Body on the Family Farm
Trysten is one of three children born to Amy and Todd Mullis, who lived in Earlville, Iowa. Before the tragedy, he was an active teenager involved in school activities, including football and the honour choir. Then came 10 November 2018, a date that changed his life in ways no teenager should have to experience.
That morning, Trysten was working on the family farm with his parents when he noticed that Amy appeared unwell. She complained of dizziness and struggled to keep her balance, according to his account. He recalled seeing her hold on to prevent herself from falling when she sat on a bucket, while her legs appeared shaky when she stood.
Todd reportedly told Amy to return to the house and rest because she had undergone a medical procedure a few days earlier. Before she left, he also asked her to collect a pet carrier from a nearby shed that he intended to use later. Amy agreed, and Todd and Trysten continued working.
When Todd subsequently went to retrieve the carrier, he discovered that it was not where he expected it to be. He sent his son to check the shed, a seemingly ordinary errand that quickly became a moment of unimaginable shock.
Inside, Trysten found his mother lying face down on the floor, with a corn rake protruding from her body. She had no detectable pulse. The teenager checked her arm and tried to assess whether she was responsive before calling his father over.
During his account of the discovery, Trysten described the immediate panic he experienced, explaining that his anxiety had gone from zero to 100 in a split second. It is difficult to imagine how anyone, let alone a 13-year-old, could process such a scene without being overwhelmed.
Todd placed Amy in a truck and drove towards a hospital with Trysten beside him. Amy was lying across her son's lap during the journey. Todd also called emergency services and was instructed to pull over while help was dispatched. An ambulance eventually transported Amy to hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The circumstances surrounding her death led to a criminal investigation, and Todd ultimately became the person accused of killing her. The case would go on to place Trysten in an extraordinarily difficult position: he was both a key witness to the events of that morning and the son of the man charged with his mother's death.
Trysten Mullis Testified During His Father’s Trial
Todd Mullis was indicted in connection with Amy's death, and Trysten later testified during his father's trial through a teleconference. Although reports described the teenager as composed while giving evidence, he acknowledged that the experience had been traumatic.
One detail became particularly significant during the proceedings: how long Todd had been out of Trysten's sight on the morning Amy died.
In a pre-trial deposition, Trysten estimated that his father had been out of view for approximately one minute and 40 seconds. During his trial testimony, however, he clarified that he could not definitively establish the length of time Todd had been absent.
That distinction matters because estimating a period during a stressful morning is not the same as being able to verify precisely how long someone was away. Trysten's clarification became part of the broader discussion surrounding the evidence presented in the case.
Todd was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The verdict brought a legal conclusion to the trial, but it did not settle the matter for everyone involved in the family.
For Trysten, the case was particularly complicated because the conviction concerned his father, the same person he had called for help after discovering his mother. Whatever the legal outcome, he was left to navigate a loss that had already reshaped his childhood.
Trysten Mullis Says His Father Is Innocent
Years after the conviction, Trysten appeared on The Corn Rake Witness to discuss the case and the lasting impact of his mother's death. His position was clear: he believes his father was wrongly convicted and wants the conviction overturned.
During the interview, Trysten revisited his earlier account of the time Todd had been out of sight. He explained that his previous estimate was not intended to suggest that he knew the precise duration, clarifying that he had not been claiming it could have been 20 minutes or another specific length of time.
Asked whether he believed his father was innocent, Trysten responded emphatically that he knew Todd had not committed the crime because he had been there and believed nobody else was present.
His statement reflects the strength of his personal conviction, although his belief should be distinguished from the court's verdict. Todd was convicted following a trial, and Trysten's public support does not, by itself, overturn that legal decision.
Nevertheless, his willingness to speak about the case has brought renewed attention to a family divided by grief, a criminal conviction and sharply different perspectives on what happened on the farm.
His position also places him in a difficult public role. He is not simply a person commenting on a case from the outside; he is a son whose childhood was shaped by the death of his mother and whose relationship with his father became inseparable from the legal proceedings that followed.
Trysten Mullis Continued Playing Football During His School Years
Although the criminal case has remained a defining part of Trysten's public story, it is not the only aspect of his life. He continued to pursue American football during his school years, becoming involved with the Ankeny High School men's varsity football team.
In November 2023, Trysten, then a senior offensive lineman, received an All-District Honorable Mention. He was also included on Ankeny's 2024 football roster, reflecting his continued involvement in the sport.
Football offered a different focus from the legal proceedings that had attracted attention to his family. For a young person whose teenage years were marked by an intensely public criminal case, school activities and sporting commitments could provide a more familiar routine.
There is little publicly confirmed information about Trysten's current professional activities or day-to-day circumstances. He has generally maintained a low profile, and it would be unwise to fill those gaps with assumptions simply because viewers are curious about what happened to him.
His relative privacy is understandable. Being the child of people at the centre of a high-profile criminal case does not mean every detail of one's adult life needs to become public information.
Trysten Mullis Remains Close to His Family
Trysten has also maintained a connection with members of his extended family, including his aunt Whitney Gamm, Amy's sister.
When Trysten turned 18, Whitney marked the occasion with a heartfelt birthday tribute, sharing photographs and videos from different stages of his life. Her message celebrated the young man he was becoming and expressed pride in his transition into adulthood.
The tribute offered a glimpse of the family relationships that have continued beyond the headlines. While the case has often been discussed through courtroom testimony and television interviews, those personal connections represent another part of the story: the people who have watched Trysten grow up after losing his mother.
Whitney's message also carried a lighter tone, joking about the role of an aunt in encouraging her nephew to have fun and make memories, even if that occasionally meant getting into trouble. It was an affectionate reminder that family life continues in ordinary ways, even when extraordinary circumstances have changed it.
For Trysten, that support may be particularly meaningful given how much of his adolescence unfolded under the shadow of Amy's death and Todd's prosecution. Still, the full details of his present relationships and private circumstances have not been widely established.
Opinion: Trysten Mullis’ Story Is About More Than a True-Crime Mystery
The most compelling part of Trysten Mullis' story is not simply the mystery surrounding Amy's death or the conviction of Todd Mullis. It is the position Trysten has been forced to occupy: a son who discovered his mother dead and later had to testify in a case involving his father. True-crime television can make these events feel like puzzles waiting for an audience to solve, but real families do not get to switch off when the credits roll.
Trysten's unwavering support for his father deserves to be understood as his personal position, not treated as proof that the court was wrong. Equally, a conviction does not erase the emotional complexity of family relationships. His story is a reminder that behind every headline are people dealing with consequences long after public attention moves elsewhere. Perhaps the most important thing is to approach his experience with curiosity, fairness and a little less certainty.
For now, Trysten Mullis remains a private individual whose public profile is largely tied to his mother's death, his father's conviction and his own account of what happened that November morning. His appearance on 48 Hours has renewed interest in his perspective, while his football background and family connections offer a broader view of the person beyond the case. Whether further developments emerge remains to be seen, but the questions surrounding Amy Mullis' death continue to attract attention. What do you think about the challenges faced by children who become witnesses in cases involving their own families? Share your thoughts respectfully, and remember that behind every true-crime story are real people whose lives continue long after the cameras leave.