CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS STORY: IA Supreme Court REVERSES Dorsey Conviction
January 10th, 2025 by Ric Hanson
This is a correction to our recently posted IA SUPCO story where we inadvertently posted the Appeals Court decision, NOT the Supreme Court. KJAN regrets the error and has updated the story as follows:
(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court (IASUPCO) today (Friday), issued a decision in the case of Alison Elaine Dorsey, who, on November 14, 2024 appealed her conviction in her second-degree murder and child endangerment causing death, case. In it’s opinion, the IASUPCO said “Dorsey’s conviction is reversed, and the case is remanded for a new trial. Decision of Court of Appeals Affirmed in Part and Vacated in Part; District Court Judgment Reversed and Case Remanded.” https://www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/21043/embed/SupremeCourtOpinion
Dorsey was convicted of 2nd Degree Murder in Pottawattamie County District Court in June, 2023. Her conviction was related to the death of a child who was under her care in Massena home. Dorsey’s attorney’s had sought further review of the court of appeals decision that affirmed her convictions for second-degree murder and child endangerment causing death. They argued that the change of venue from Cass County to Pottawattamie County was improper, substantial evidence did not support the verdict, evidence of the victim’s rib injury was improperly admitted, she was unfairly deprived of her right to call additional character witnesses regarding certain traits, and the court erred in denying her motion for a new trial.
Dorsey’s first trial in Cass County ended in a hung jury. The second trial was moved to Pottawattamie County due to pre-trial publicity.

