Teacher remembered as ‘wonderful’ after being shot to death
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DRIGGS — Family members, friends and students are mourning the death of a popular teacher after investigators say she and her unborn child were brutally murdered this week.
A family member found the body of Jennifer S. Nalley, 39, in front of her cabin north of Driggs Tuesday morning.
A Jackson, Wyoming man was charged in a Teton County, Idaho court yesterday, July 6, for murdering Nalley, who was his girlfriend.
Erik Martin Ohlson, 39, was picked up early Tuesday morning by sheriff’s deputies near the intersection of Highway 33 and 2500 North in Driggs, Idaho, where he had crashed his truck into a power pole.
Ohlson was arrested for driving under the influence and for possessing an open beverage container. He was then transported to the Madison County Jail in Rexburg.
During the arrest process, Ohlson observed to a sheriff’s deputy that he had “bigger problems than a DUI and crash” to worry about.
The next morning, at about 11:20 am, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch received a call that a relative had found the body of Nalley.
Nalley moved to Driggs in November 2015. She was a physics and math teacher in Austin Texas prior. She graduated from Texas State University with Bachelor of Science in 2008.
Nalley, who was pregnant, was found with multiple gunshot wounds by sheriff’s deputies.
The Teton County Fire Department found a Glock model 30 handgun on the north side of the road not far from Nalley’s residence. According to the sheriff’s office, the gun “was the same caliber used in the shooting.”
That night, Ohlson, who had remained in custody, was interviewed by investigators.
The affidavit of probable cause submitted by the investigators said that Ohlson admitted to being Nalley’s boyfriend, and knowing that she was pregnant for weeks.
On the night of the incident, Ohlson said he had been drinking and arrived at Nalley’s residence that night, “intending to scare” her.
He said he arrived at her front door with his loaded handgun in his back pocket. When Nalley came to the door, he said he shot her multiple times, “until his gun ran out of bullets.”
Ohlson then claimed to leave the scene, “trying to get the courage to kill himself.” He told investigators he was unable to shoot himself and “threw the weapon to the side of the road, went back to his truck and drove away.”
Ohlson claimed he intentionally tried to take his life by driving into the power pole where he was later found and taken into custody.
Ohlson appeared in court via video Wednesday afternoon on two counts of first-degree murder. His next hearing will take place on July 20, 2016. He could face maximum penalties, up to and including the death penalty.
Nalley was a member of the Jackson Hole Juggernauts roller derby team and went by the name Pixie Tourette.
Her team released the following statement Wednesday evening:
“We are mourning the loss of our dear friend Pixie Tourette. She was the most oddly brilliant and wonderful person we’ve ever met. Fiercely loyal, wonderfully inviting – she lived life like we all should. She had no apologies for the unique, quirky, lovely soul that she was. She always gave 100% to her team, family, students and friends. Roller Derby Queen, physics nerd, punk rock enthusiast – you were lucky to have met her. We are extremely devastated, and our thoughts are with her family, friends, and derby sisters.”
The story was originally published in Teton Valley News. It is used here with permission.