KSOM/KS95 Radio Exclusive Story
(Atlantic) Opening statements and testimony began this morning (May 2) in Pottawattamie County District Court in the trial of The State of Iowa versus Alison Dorsey. Dorsey has been charged with 1st Degree Murder and Child Endangerment for allegedly causing the death of an infant in early October 2019, while in her home daycare in Massena. Dorsey pleaded not guilty.
In the fall of 2021, a deadlocked jury forced a mistrial on November 4. Due to the publicity of the case, the trial was moved to Pottawattamie County District Court.
Assistant Attorney General Monty Platz is the Prosecuting Attorney, and David Brooks is the defense attorney for Alison Dorsey.
According to the complaints filed; On October 7, 2019, Luka Hodges was dropped off at a daycare located at 408 Pine Street in Massena. The owner/operator of this daycare is Alison Dorsey. Luka’s father, Nicholas, advised that he dropped off Luka and his twin and older brother at approximately 7:48 a.m., and Luka was a normal, healthy baby at the time of drop off. The baby’s mother, Kaitlin, also advised that she sent a normal, healthy baby with Nicholas to daycare that morning.
Platz says at roughly 10:50 a.m. Alison Dorsey phones Luka’s mother Kaitlin and expresses her concern about Luka’s breathing. Dorsey also called Nicholas, Luka’s father who arrives a short time later to find a lifeless body.
Defense Attorney David Brooks stated that Luka’s injuries are at least three days old. He said when someone dies, the healing processes stop, so if these injuries are several days old then that means these injuries must have happened before baby Luka arrived at Alison’s house.
Brooks said they will have doctors on hand to explain other medical issues that Luka was having.
The trial continues this afternoon.
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Full opening statements are posted below:
