(Des Moines) A woman from Massena, Iowa, who was serving time for the death of a baby in her care at an in-home daycare, has been released from prison after the Iowa Supreme Court reversed her conviction last month.
According to court records, a cash bond was posted on February 11th.
Alison Dorsey was found guilty of second-degree murder and child endangerment by the Pottawattamie County District Court in June 2023. Alison Dorsey was released this week, having been sentenced to 50 years in prison. This was her second trial; the first ended with a hung jury. Prosecutors argued that 11-week-old Luka Hodges died from severe brain hemorrhages caused by “shaken baby syndrome” in 2019.
In January, the Iowa Supreme Court issued a ruling in the case of Alison Elaine Dorsey, who appealed her conviction for second-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. Dorsey’s legal team contended that the venue change from Cass County to Pottawattamie County was inappropriate, that she was unjustly denied the opportunity to present additional character witnesses, and that the court erroneously denied her motion for a new trial.
In its ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court determined that the venue was improperly changed to Pottawattamie County. Because of this improper change of venue, the defendant (Alison Elaine Dorsey) was granted a new trial.
The date for the new trial has not yet been set.
