Former Farm Manager testifies in trial surrounding Tecumseh poultry barn fire

TECUMSEH, NE — We are learning more about the events leading up to a 2019 fire that killed more than 20,000 chickens in southeast Nebraska.

Former Tecumseh Poultry Farm Manager Steve Helser testified Wednesday in the case against 54-year-old Kim Bohling of Tecumseh. The State says Bohling tampered with heating and cooling controls in a chicken barn causing the barn to catch fire, burn to the ground and kill all of the chickens inside.

Bohling was fired from her job as a farm auditor at Tecumseh Poultry in late December of 2018. Helser testified that Bohling’s personal problems spilled over into work, that she threw chicken litter on the floor and left an offensive note for workers to see.

Helser said he noticed tampering with temperature controls at multiple barns three separate times during February and March of 2019. He said the tampering always happened when no workers were scheduled. The fire was on April 5 while he was out of town. The State also showed a photo of offensive graffiti that was spray painted on Helser’s garage in late February.

Bohling is charged with arson, criminal mischief, three counts of trespassing and mistreating livestock. The trial is scheduled to continue on Thursday and Friday.