An 83-year-old Wyoming attorney is facing a vehicular homicide charge after prosecutors alleged that he struck a pedestrian who later died from her injuries in Jackson.
Sanford “Sandy” Ress is accused of hitting 73-year-old fashion designer Helga Hermine Tesar at an intersection on December 12, 2025. Tesar was seriously injured in the crash and died a week later at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Ress has pleaded not guilty, but court records indicate he is expected to appear for a change-of-plea hearing on October 19.
Tesar died after suffering serious injuries
According to her family, Tesar remained in hospital following the collision before they ultimately followed her wishes to allow her to die peacefully.
Her family had initially established a fundraising page to support her recovery. Following her death on December 19, it was transformed into a memorial fund.
Her son Andrew later described the family’s final moments with Tesar, saying relatives gathered around her and remained with her until her final breath.
He said she was surrounded by the love of her children, grandchildren and friends.
Ress faces potential prison sentence
Ress has been charged with homicide by vehicle, careless driving and other traffic violations in connection with the crash.
If convicted of vehicular homicide, he could face up to one year in prison and a fine of as much as $2,000.
Ress initially entered a not-guilty plea in January. No plea agreement had been publicly filed as of the latest court reporting, although his scheduled change-of-plea hearing could signal a development in the case.
The circumstances surrounding any potential change in his plea have not been publicly detailed.
Former lawyer built a prominent local profile
Ress is a retired attorney who has maintained a significant property portfolio, with public records showing homes or property interests in Wyoming, Alabama, California and Pennsylvania.
Among the properties associated with him is a Birmingham, Alabama, home valued at approximately $2.3 million. He also previously owned a two-story property in Palo Alto, California, that was valued at about $5.9 million.
Beyond his legal career and property holdings, Ress became known locally as a civic watchdog.
He is listed as manager of Birder Magazine, LLC, a Jackson-based publication, and previously challenged the leadership of St. John’s Health over alleged violations of Wyoming’s open meetings and public records laws.
Hospital lawsuit ended largely in St. John’s favour
In 2023, Ress sued the St. John’s Health Board of Trustees, arguing that the organisation had conducted public business behind closed doors during executive sessions.
The dispute centred on the appointment process for trustees and whether the board had complied with Wyoming’s transparency laws.
A district court subsequently ruled in favour of St. John’s Health and its board on most of Ress’s complaints.
Judge Melissa Owens determined that the board’s executive sessions had not violated the state’s open meetings laws, according to local reporting.
Tesar’s journey from Vienna to Wyoming
Tesar’s life story stretched across continents before she established herself as a respected designer in Jackson.
She was born in Vienna, Austria, to a carpenter father and a mother who worked as a seamstress. She married Heinrich “Heinz” Johann Munz in 1975 and later became the mother of three children.
The family moved to the United States in 1986 after financial difficulties, eventually settling in upstate New York.
Tesar developed her creative talents through quilting, producing work that won awards at competitions in the Catskills.
From quilting to a fashion business
After moving to Wyoming, Tesar increasingly focused on design and eventually studied at the Sheffield School of Interior Design.
She went on to establish Helga’s Design, becoming known in the Jackson community for distinctive leather art-to-wear creations.
Her work combined fashion with fine art and reflected the craftsmanship she had learned from her mother.
Her family remembered her not only as a designer but also as a mother and grandmother whose creativity became an important part of her identity.
Family remembers a woman who transformed her life
Following the fatal crash, Tesar’s loved ones rallied around her during her hospitalisation before gathering to say goodbye.
Her son Andrew later paid tribute to his mother, describing the final hours as a deeply emotional family moment.
The memorial fundraising effort continues to honour her life and legacy.
Meanwhile, the criminal case against Ress is moving toward its next significant stage, with his October 19 court appearance expected to shed more light on how the case will proceed.
Ress’s attorney John Robinson and Teton County Prosecutor Dick Stout were contacted for comment.
