(Des Moines) The Iowa Supreme Court issued a ruling today in the case of Alison Elaine Dorsey, who appealed her conviction for second-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death in November of last year. In its ruling, The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the court of appeals ruling that the evidence was sufficient for conviction but determined that the venue was improperly changed to Pottawattamie County. Because of the improper change of venue, the defendant (Alison Elaine Dorsey) is granted a new trial.
Dorsey was found guilty of second-degree murder by the Pottawattamie County District Court in June 2023. This conviction stemmed from the death of a child under her care in Massena. 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.
Dorsey’s initial trial in Cass County resulted in a hung jury, prompting the relocation of her second trial to Pottawattamie County.
