Hunter
06/08/24
A Cedar Rapids man convicted in the fatal stabbing of a woman was sentenced to ten years in prison.
A Linn County jury found 38-year-old Shane Teslik guilty of voluntary manslaughter and disorderly conduct with the use of epithets in the January 2023 fatal stabbing of 29-year-old Davonna Walker.
Video evidence and testimony at trial indicated an argument between Walker and Teslik’s girlfriend escalated when Teslik threatened to kill her and used a racial slur just before she assaulted him. He originally claimed to have used the slur only once, but video of the incident that circulated on social media showed he said it four times. The last time he yelled it, Walker had started walking away from the altercation but then ran at him and assaulted him. Teslik then reportedly stabbed her, penetrating her left lung and aorta.
Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks asked the judge to sentence Teslik to 10 years in prison, and noted that Teslik showed no remorse for his actions or using the racial slur. Judge Jason Besler also ordered Teslik to pay restitution to Walker’s children.