DAVENPORT, Iowa (Court TV) — An Iowa man is facing life in prison after a jury convicted him of murdering his girlfriend.
Christopher Behal reacts to the jury’s verdict Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Court TV)
Christopher Behal was found guilty in the March 2024 death of Taylor Escontrias. Prosecutors argued Behal stabbed Escontrias multiple times with a screwdriver and a knife and beat her with a baseball bat before leaving the scene and crashing his vehicle into a light pole.
While at a hospital, Behal told Deputy Jacob Turner that he had visions of beating Escontrias with a baseball and asked for a welfare check.
Deputies found Escontrias deceased at the couple’s apartment, along with a bat and screwdriver covered in blood. A knife was also recovered from Behal’s vehicle.
Behal testified he and Escontrias spent the afternoon drinking vodka, and his last memory before waking up in a hospital was lying in bed talking to his girlfriend. Behal repeatedly denied remembering the attack.
Behal was facing seven charges, however the charges were reduced to first-degree murder and domestic abuse with intent to inflict serious injury ahead of trial. The jury convicted him of both charges.
Behal faces life in prison without parole at his sentencing hearing scheduled for May 30.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 6 – 3/11/25
- A jury found Christopher Behal guilty of first-degree murder and domestic abuse with intent to inflict serious injury.
- The prosecution delivers their rebuttal.
DAY 5 – 3/10/25
- On direct examination, defendant Christopher Behal said he and Taylor Escontrias spent the afternoon drinking vodka, and his last memory before waking up in a hospital was lying in bed talking to his girlfriend.
- As the prosecution detailed Escontrias’ injuries during the defendant’s cross-examination, Behal responded, “according to evidence.”
- In their closing argument, the prosecution said Escontrias’ blood is on the defendant’s hands, literally and figuratively.
- The prosecution outlined the chronological evidence that paints a picture of danger leading to Escontrias’ death shortly after she reached out for help.
- WATCH: Behal Prosecutor: ‘Taylor’s Blood is On the Defendant’s Hands’
- The defense urged the jury to find Behal guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, focusing on reasonable doubt and noting the lack of incriminating evidence such as online searches or journals that could indicate premeditation or planning. The defense also claimed Behal’s statements could not be considered a confession and reflected confusion rather than guilt.
DAY 4 – 3/7/25
- The jury sees Behal’s police interviews with Deputy Roling:
- Behal admits to drinking vodka and states he feels lucid despite his recent alcohol use. He reveals a lack of sleep over the past few days, which he attributes to coming down from a binge.
- Behal recounts a sequence of events involving an emotional argument with Escontrias that escalated into violence.
- Behal expresses regret and confusion about the incident, stating, “What the fuck did I do?”
- He laments the lack of memory and wishes he could “wake up” from this nightmare.
- Behal tells investigators he and Escontrias met in rehab and both struggle with alcoholism.
- Behal repeatedly asserts he “blacked out” during the incident, struggling to piece together what led to it.
- He describes seeing the blood afterward, recognizing he has harmed Escontrias but is confused about the timeline and details.
- WATCH: Christopher Behal Admits Beating Taylor With Baseball Bat, Stabbing Her
- The defense moves for a judgment of acquittal focusing on the lack of evidence for essential elements of first-degree murder, particularly malice aforethought and intent due to Behal’s mental state. The state asserts that while Behal may not remember using all the weapons involved, he did recall using a baseball bat and knife, and Dr. Klein’s testimony links those actions to Escontrias’ death and that the use of multiple weapons indicates deliberation and premeditation. The judge ultimately decides that the issues should be determined by a jury, denying the motion.
DAY 3 – 3/6/25
- Dr. Dennis Klein, the medical examiner that performed the autopsy on Escontrias, testified that her cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries and ruled the manner of death as homicide.
- Iowa DCI criminalist Stanton Freilinger testified he was asked to test specific items for blood presence and to compare DNA samples from Taylor Escontrias and Christopher Behal.
- Deputy Ethan Roling, the lead investigator, testified that Behal mentioned consuming alcohol the night before and indicated that he could not remember precisely when he had last drank.
- Roling testified that Behal offered an account of the events leading to the situation, indicating that an argument arose from a dispute and that the victim had attacked him.
DAY 2 – 3/5/25
- Lt. Thomas Leonard, who was dispatched to the scene where Behal crashed his vehicle, testified that Behal showed signs of intoxication and was dazed. Deputies located a knife near Behal’s feet.
- Jurors saw body camera footage from Deputy Jacob Turner, who responded to the crash scene and accompanied Behal to the hospital.
- In the video, Behal admits to drinking too much but could not recall details of the night. Behal asks Turner to send someone to check on Escontrias, saying he has visions of beating her with a baseball bat.
- Turner is seen leaving the hospital and radioing to deputies to recheck the residence, relaying that Behal said he may’ve killed his girlfriend.
- WATCH: ‘Can You Make Sure She’s Alive?’: Behal Reports Visions of Beating Girlfriend
DAY 1 – 3/4/25
- In their opening statement, prosecutor Bret Larson tells the jury that Taylor Escontrias suffered 23 stab wounds from a screwdriver, 17 stab wounds from a knife and multiple blunt force injuries from a baseball bat.
- Larson said deputies found Behal in a vehicle that had struck a light pole with a bloody knife in the vehicle. At the hospital, Behal told deputies he had visions of beating Escontrias, which prompted them to search Behal’s apartment where her body was found.
- Defense attorney Leanne Striegel says the state’s challenge in this case is to prove Behal’s intent and urges the jury to keep an open mind and advocates for consideration of lesser-included charges.
- Michael Hollon, a friend of Escontrias, testified that she had ongoing struggles with alcohol and a history of abusive relationships. Hollon received phone calls and text messages from Escontrias in the early morning hours of March 14, where she asked him to pick her up. He did not go because he was drinking.
- Nick Seemann confirmed that he received Facebook messages from Escontrias late on March 13 and saw them the next morning around 7 or 8 AM. The message read, “If I get killed it was Chris….don’t reply right now he’s nuts.”
- Neighbor Dylan Carr reported hearing loud noises that he described as “stomping or banging” coming from the apartment directly above him, but did not call police.
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