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UPDATE: Dorsey trial wraps for the day on Tuesday

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November 2nd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The case of Iowa vs. Alison Dorsey wrapped-up scheduled testimony just before 2-p.m. Tuesday, and will resume at 9-a.m. Wednesday. Judge Amy Zacharias said jurors had been dismissed for the day and the court (including the Prosecution and Defense) needed to conduct some “Housekeeping”  (Paper and procedural work) before moving on. Dorsey has been charged with 1st Degree Murder and Child Endangerment for allegedly causing the death of an infant in her care – Luka Hodges – in early October 2019.

After the mid-day lunch break, Prosecutor Monty Platz recalled Assistant State Medical Examiner Kelly Kruse to the stand. Dr. Kruse assisted with the autopsy of the deceased infant Luka Hodges. Dr. Kruse had stated earlier that Luka’s manner of death was undetermined. Another Forensic Pathologist testified he did not find any evidence of a “Purposeful act” in the manner of death. Dr. Kruse said she couldn’t date sub-dermal hematoma’s such as were found in Luka’s case which is why sent sent the body to a neuropathologist. She said bruises could occur in the case where there is an impact point or blunt trauma.

Dr. Marco Hefti, a Neuropathologist with the University of Iowa, was called by the State as a rebuttal witness. He works with the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office, and was of the opinion the injuries Luka sustained were consistent with severe head trauma, but he could not suggest a difference between and accident and abuse. Another rebuttal Dr. Resimye Oral, a Child Abuse Pediatrics Specialist with the Child Advocacy and Protection Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon, New Hampshire, spoke via Zoom, Tuesday morning. She testified it was her opinion after reviewing the records, that there was no way Luka could have suffered the internal head injuries he did without having been the subject of Shaken Baby Syndrome. She acknowledged there were not skull fractures, but there appeared to be some scapular contusions.

Dorsey herself took to the stand on Tuesday morning. She has cared for the Hodges’ children since 2015. She first met Luka on Oct. 7, 2019, the day his dad Nick dropped him off in a car child safety seat. During her testimony she stated that she was not aware of any prior injuries to Luka, and not aware of any medical issues he may have had, other than he was heavy breathing a couple of hours after being dropped off. She did not note any discoloration in the child’s face. She stated that she called Nick  to help her with his breathing issues, because Luka’s brother Karver had similar issues and used a nebulizer. She called 9-1-1 after Nick Hodges arrived and the child suddenly stopped breathing.

Dorsey said after Luka left she had no idea what his condition was until she got a call from Luka’s mother when Luka got a heartbeat back and he was going to be life-flighted to Children’s hospital. She said she never heard from Luka’s parents again after that. She also testified she did not know there is a limit on the number of children an unlicensed child care center is allowed to have (3 babies), and contradicted the number of kids in former Cass County Deputy Bill Ayers said were in the home.  Dorsey acknowledged there were only a few minutes she wasn’t watching the children, and that was during the time she was washing baby bottles.

She said also, she has no idea how Luka received injuries to his head and the sub dermal hematomas.