GUILTY IA - Sterling Koehn, 4 mos, starved to death, Alta Vista, 30 Aug 2017

[HayLouise]

Turbett said Koehn told him Cheyanne and doctor had talked about "baby blues," mentioned Lexapro medication.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

(interview audio seems to show no action was taken on Lexapro matter)

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

Turbett is done, next up is Medical Examiner Dennis Klein.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

BBM

 

[HayLouise]

Going over Klein's CV, his background. He is chief ME for Iowa, had been a deputy ME before that. Has done more than 3,200 autopsies

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein said he ruled cause of death for Sterling was denial of critical care, manner was homicide.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein said Sterling"lost a lot of water, lost a lot of salt" (sodium). Eventually you reach a critical level where you are at risk of death

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

Klein: was he being adequately fed? no.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein: also found severe diaper dermatitis and skin breakdown. Skin no longer functions to keep fluid in body and bacteria out.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein: Sterling's diaper was filled with stool, skin had prolonged contact with feces, caused total body infection of e.coli

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

Klein: diaper had been on a "prolonged period of time" long enough that flies laid eggs, eggs hatched and grew up to be maggots.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter


Klein: I usually see maggots on decomposing flesh. Sterling was't decomposing, maggots were there on the feces.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

Prosecutor Denise Timmins: the maggots were there when Sterling was alive?

Klein: yes

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein: Sterling's weight at death was only slightly more than his birth weight, only 150g(a few ounces) more. "He should have gained pounds"

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein: small thymus(chest organ) showed Sterling was under ongoing stress.Shrunk likely due to malnutrition.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein said he found signs of anoxia from an earlier injury, possibly happened during birth (which was in a bathtub)

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

Klein said he found Sterling's stomach broke open after death, helped narrow time of death.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

#ZacharyKoehn - 20 min break

Cathy Russon on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein said no indications of any assaultive injury

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

Klein: looked at other possibilities.no heart defects, no bowel abnormaility, no genetic brain issues. Ruled out viruses.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

Klein: malnutrition, dehydration and infection could have caused the death individually.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

Klein: it would take several days, maybe a week, to get to the level of diaper rash.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein said child going through this likely would have been louder at first,crying.Then would have become lethargic,not responding to stimuli

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein said would have had fever at first, later become colder. Eventually would lose the cry.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein: given dehyudration, infection etc, child would have been "non-interactive"

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Klein: Unable to give time of death or a range.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[2Hope4]

As I type a kitten is tryign to catch my fingers. A kitten I've spent days and nights worrying over for weeks. Took the vet numerous times. Wiped it's bottom more times than I can remember. Bottle Fed. A KITTEN! Sterling was a HUMAN! How can you completely ignore a baby?

 

[HayLouise]

Dr. Dennis Klein, Iowa State Medical Examiner



Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Prosecution offering autopsy photos.

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Koehn looking away, rocking in his chair during photos. covers his face

Jeff Reinitz on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

#ZacharyKoehn has his head in his hands during medical examiner testimony.

Cathy Russon on Twitter