Witnesses: Gordon Lasley Jr. had no signs of mental illness at time of killing

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Chicago psychologist testifying for the prosecution Monday said Gordon Lasley Jr. didn't have a mental disease or defect at the time he killed his parents with a machete.

Christopher Grote, a clinical psychologist with Rush University Medical Center, testified Lasley didn't meet the criteria for schizophrenia, and he also didn't have a psychotic disorder or a delusional disorder. He does have a marijuana dependency and anti-social behavior but neither are a mental disease or defect, Grote said.

Last week, a psychologist testifying for the defense diagnosed Lasley with paranoid schizophrenia and another defense psychologist said he had a delusional disorder.

The prosecution rested its rebuttal case after Grote testified. Defense attorneys wanted time to discuss the possibility of Lasley testifying and closing arguments will likely be Tuesday afternoon.

Lasley is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents, Gordon Lasley Sr. and Kim Lasley, on Feb. 5. According to testimony, Lasley used a 3-foot-long homemade machete to stab the two in their home on the Meskwaki Settlement in Tama.

Lasley isn't disputing he killed his parents, but is claiming insanity at the time of the offense.

Grote testified he reviewed all the records in this case, which is about 19,000 pages and interviewed Lasley Oct. 17 and 18 in the Linn County Jail. He also looked at Lasley's family history because mental illness can be genetically linked. Grote also looked at Lasley's juvenile records, which showed substance abuse, conduct disorder, and anti-social traits.

'The best predictor or future behavior is past behavior,” Grote said.

Grote said Lasley was well composed, straightforward, had a range of affect - displayed emotion and no peculiar behavior. Lasley cried when they discussed the murders and he seemed 'genuinely remorseful.”

Lasley told Grote he had a 'minimal” relationship with his father. He said his father was 'frequently drunk and could be mean and abusive when he drank.” Lasley said his mother was more loving but she couldn't 'put tough love on him and discipline him.”

The other psychologists said Lasley had a delusion about been infected with AIDS or another sexually transmitted disease, but Grote said Lasley was concerned because he had unprotected sex with eight or nine partners. He tested negative in 2011, but he still worried because he had unprotected sex after taking the test.

Grote said Lasley believing in 'bad medicine,” which he thought was the ability for someone to put a 'hex” on another, isn't a delusion, as the other psychologists said, it's a cultural belief shared by others on the Meskwaki Settlement. Grote said Lasley's girlfriend and many others who testified before a grand jury believe in bad medicine.

Grote said Lasley denied having hallucinations and delusions.

On cross, John Burns, Lasley's attorney, asked if its true that different psychologists make different diagnosis and Grote agreed.

In other testimony, an art instructor, two nurses, a jailer and probation officer, said Lasley didn't show any signs of mental illness.

Timothy Castle, instructor at Marshalltown Community College, said Lasley was polite, respectful and quiet in his sculpture class, which he attended the month of January. Castle, said Lasley was a good student, and he saw 'great promise” in his work.

Ankeny police detective Brian Wasko testified about arresting Lasley in August 2007. Lasley resisted arrest for possession of marijuana, threatened to 'kick their ass,” and called them 'white devil” and 'white supremicist.”

Wasko said Lasley pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and interference with the arrest.