(Atlantic) The State of Iowa versus Alison Dorsey trial continued this (Monday) afternoon with the Defense Attorney DeShawne Birdsell calling 17-consecutive character witnesses to the stand for the defendant Alison Dorsey.
Tonya Waters sent her first child to Dorsey in 2017, and her youngest child started in 2018. Waters told the court the two children in Dorsey’s care had a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and both children were non-verbal.
Chase Wheatley is a local banker and member of the Rescue squad. Wheatley had two daughters that attended Alison Dorsey’s daycare. Wheatley told the court he and his wife have a two-month child they would have taken to Dorsey’s tomorrow.
Sarah Jones, a nurse at Cass Health Hospital, has three children and attended Alison Dorsey’s daycare.
Born and raised in Massena, Barry Bower returned to Massena with his wife and four children and moved back to Massena five years ago. Bower’s second-grade daughter attended Alison Dorsey’s daycare, and Barry is the CAM North Elementary Principal and Head Football Coach.
Birdsell told the court 36-more character witnesses were willing to testify about Alison Dorsey’s patience, ability to care, organizational skills, and general character. The attorneys agreed to end the character testimonies at that point.
Prosecuting attorney Monty Platz says 17-consecutive witnesses took the stand saying the same thing, while the State has objected to that as a cumulative.
The court will resume at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The defense will bring another witness to the stand, followed by some potential rebuttal witnesses from the State.
