Brain injuries led to death, medical examiner testifies

CEDAR RAPIDS — The chief state medical examiner testified Monday in a murder trial that victim Elsie Deason died from complications of traumatic brain injury, resulting in a pulmonary embolism in her right lung and cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Dennis Klein, also a forensic pathologist, said if the victim she hadn’t had the brain injury, as a result of a severe assault by her son, George Deason, these underlying causes wouldn’t have resulted in her death.

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The pulmonary embolism was 9 centimeters — about three and a half inches — in length and found in the right lung of Elsie Deason, 71, according to a CT scan taken July 17, 2020, after the assault in her home between June 30 and July 1, 2020.

A medical intervention to stop brain bleeding in the victim meant taking her off a previously prescribed blood thinner. But that in turn caused the pulmonary embolism and her death, Klein concluded. Elsie could have had a heart attack, but if she was on a blood thinner that would be less likely, Klein added.

George Deason, 52, of Cedar Rapids, is charged with second-degree murder in his mother’s death. His bench trial — being heard by 6th Judicial District Judge Sean McPartland — started Tuesday in Linn County District Court and is expected to wrap up Thursday.

Deason is accused of fatally beating his mother in an attempt to steal money from her in her southwest Cedar Rapids home, where he also lived, according to testimony. She died from her injuries about a month later, on July 23, 2020.

George Deason also is charged with assault on persons in certain occupations and interference with official acts with a dangerous weapon. Last week, his lawyers said he was going to file written guilty pleas to those charges.

Klein, during trial, went over the internal injuries to Elsie that were consistent with blunt force trauma to her head and face.

She had bleeding on both sides of the internal scalp, which showed bleeding on right and left sides of head, and is consistent with blunt force trauma. Inside the skull, she had hemorrhaging at different levels of the brain — in the subdural, between the brain and its outermost covering, and the subarachnoid, or space between brain and tissue covering the brain, Klein testified. She also had a contusion — or bruise on the brain, Klein added.

The base of the skull also showed subdural blood, which indicated trauma.

Elsie had several other issues in her medical history including, a hole in her heart, which had been repaired; and coronary artery disease, emphysema, pneumonia and high blood pressure, Klein noted.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Andrew Powers asked if Klein had reviewed photos of Elsie’ facial and head injuries and asked if her brain injuries were consistent with those.

Klein said they were blunt force type injuries and were consistent with her brain injuries.

Powers asked if they were consistent with a fall, which is what George Deason said happened, according to the defense’s opening statement.

Klein said the injuries aren’t consistent with a single fall. There would have to be multiple falls to result in the different areas of injury to her head and brain, he said.

The prosecution rested its case and the defense will start Wednesday.

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