Marion father charged with fatal assault of his infant will undergo mental evaluation

CEDAR RAPIDS — A judge Friday granted a motion to have a Marion man, who is accused of fatally assaulting his 19-day-old infant, undergo a mental evaluation. His murder case is suspended pending the outcome.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Jason Besler said Samuel Elijah Goodwin, 23, will have an evaluation by an independent psychologist, as requested by defense, and a status conference will be set in early January.

Pending the results of that evaluation, the prosecution may ask the court to have another evaluation by a state psychologist.

Besler also stayed — suspended — the case until the evaluation is completed.

Todd Weimer, Goodwin’s lawyer, in a motion for the evaluation, said Goodwin was “suffering from a mental disorder” that prevents him from understanding the charge and proceedings and assisting effectively in his defense. Weimer said his in-person communications with Goodwin and information received supports his argument.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks and assistant prosecutor Ryan Decker didn’t resist the motion.

Goodwin also will claim insanity or diminished capacity as his defense at trial, according to a motion filed last month.

Goodwin, charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death, admitted to police to assaulting the infant by throwing him in a crib and slamming his head into the floor because he wouldn’t stop crying, according to a criminal complaint.

He also told police he was the sole caretaker of his son during the overnight hours of April 3 through 4 of 2021 when the baby wouldn’t stop crying and wouldn’t take a bottle. He couldn’t wake up the baby’s mother and became “flustered and irritated,” the complaint stated.

Goodwin first told police he dropped the infant at least two times, according to the criminal complaint. He then admitted to throwing his son into a crib, causing his head to hit the side of the crib and then the floor. Goodwin slammed the baby’s head twice into the floor.

The father put the baby in a bouncer, covered him, went downstairs and “hoped for the best,” the complaint stated.

Police said attempts to save the baby were unsuccessful. Officers and medical personnel responded about 9:40 a.m. April 4 at 430 Ninth St. in Marion.

An autopsy conducted by the state medical examiner stated the infant died from multiple head injuries and the death was determined to be a homicide, according to the complaint.

Goodwin remains in jail under a $1 million cash-only bail.

If convicted of first-degree murder, he faces life in prison without parole. Child endangerment resulting in death is up to 50 years in prison

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