Doctors said 71-year-old Cedar Rapids woman had bleeding in brain after assault

CEDAR RAPIDS — An emergency room doctor testified Wednesday that 71-year-old Elsie Mae Deason had a “critical brain injury” when she arrived at the hospital July 1, 2020, after being assaulted.

Dr. Anthony Carter, from UnityPoint-St. Luke’s Hospital, testified that Deason also was having difficulty breathing and with her mental function when she was in the emergency room. She had multiple bruises and scrapings on her face, head and body. The blunt force trauma to her face and head were the injuries of concern.

The initial CT scan showed different levels of bleeding inside the brain and brain tissue, Carter testified. She also had bleeding from ruptured blood vessels inside the brain.

Deason’s son, George Deason, 52, of Cedar Rapids, is charged with second-degree murder in her death. His bench trial — being heard by District Judge Sean McPartland — started Tuesday in Linn County District Court and is expected to go into next week.

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, on June 30, 2020, according to a criminal complaint.

Elsie Deason 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. His lawyers said Tuesday he was going to file written guilty pleas to those charges.

Injuries detailed

Carter, in his testimony, said Elsie Deason was on a blood thinner because she previously had a blood clot in her lung, which made her condition more critical because they wanted to stop the brain bleeding. She was given medications to counteract the blood thinner.

Carter said she had blunt force trauma to her forehead, her eyes were swollen shut, she had nasal damage, bleeding from her nose, face and mouth contusions, swollen jawline and lips, a blood clot to her left ear, and possibly had cranial nerve damage. She also had bruising to her upper chest and arm.

Carter said the severe injuries were not consistent with a fall, which is what George Deason said happened, according to the defense’s opening statement for trial. Several falls would have had to happen to cause that level of trauma, the doctor said.

Carter, who identified Elsie Deason’s injuries from photos shown in court, said the woman also had bruising and swelling on the backside of her hands, wrist and forearms that were consistent with defensive wounds — when someone is trying to protect themselves in an assault.

Jeremy Glawatz, a neuro surgery physician assistant at St. Luke’s, said reversal of the blood thinners was important in treatment because she could have died if the bleeding didn’t stop. She didn’t require surgery but her condition was serious because of the brain bleeding.

Elsie Deason had some increased swelling within 72 hours of being in the hospital, which was treated, but her brain injury remained stable in the intensive care unit. Once she was moved out of the unit, she had more swelling.

Glawatz, who was Elsie Deason’s primary caregiver in the hospital, said her overall health was deteriorating. She had atrial fibrillation — irregular heartbeat, some mental trauma, and she wasn’t eating enough or drinking fluids. She became withdrawn and wouldn’t do the physical and occupational therapy prescribed. All of those issues, he said, stemmed from the assault.

At this point, Elsie Deason also was having night terrors and trouble sleeping, which is important to heal from a brain injury, along with food intake, Glawatz said.

Feeding tube

Assistant Linn County Attorney Andrew Powers asked if Elsie Deason had consented to a feeding tube, would it have treated or prevented a pulmonary embolism — a blood clot in the lung — which the prosecution, in its opening statement, said caused her death and resulted from complications of her injuries.

Carter said the feeding tube wouldn’t have prevented a pulmonary embolism.

The defense, in its written opening statement, said Elsie Deason’s refusal to take a feeding tube contributed to her death.

Scared of son

A social worker and a sexual assault nurse, who talked with Elsie Deason, said she told them she was scared her son would get out of jail and harm her. She told both women that George Deason was the person who assaulted her.

Marilyn Gerhold, social worker with St. Luke’s emergency department, testified that Elsie Deason told her several times that she was scared. She said her son was “sneaky” and would get out and get her.

Katie Shatek, who was a sexual assault nurse examiner with St. Luke’s in 2020, testified that police had concerns that possibly Elsie Deason had been sexually assaulted but she wouldn’t talk to them.

Shatek said Elsie Deason was scared of her son but wasn’t sexually assaulted.

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