Doug Detrie came to the witness stand Wednesday and described his reaction to hearing a body was found while his girlfriend, Nicole Vanderheyden, was missing.
"(There was) a lot going through my mind, I was just so puzzled and shocked," Detrie said. "Hurt, sad, a whirlwind of emotions."
Detrie denied having any involvement in her disappearance.
Months after the two had a child together, the pair went to a concert on May 20, 2016. Detrie said he and Nicole got separated, and she left to go to another bar. It would be the last time Detrie saw her.
She began sending him angry text messages with vulgar language.
As the hours passed and the next afternoon came, Detrie said his concern grew. He eventually filed a missing person's report and spoke with investigators..
In cross examination the defense questioned Detrie about his relationship with VanderHeyden, bringing up potential problems the night of the concert and before. Detrie talked about discussing a break up with VanderHeyden, but said he never seriously considered following through.
The defense asked Detrie about the night of VanderHeyden's disappearance and about how Detrie's mind may have been elsewhere. He said he spent much of the night apart, drinking and talking with other friends.
Detrie's testimony will continue Thursday morning.
