Authorities testify about facts surrounding Meskwaki homicide

CEDAR RAPIDS - Police officers testified Monday they entered a house on the Meskwaki Settlement last February because they had information that someone had been stabbed and the suspect, Jonathan Youngbear, had access to guns in the house and he had bloody hands when he came out of the house.

Toledo Police officer Daniel Quigley testified Youngbear, 20, came out of the house after they arrived with his hands in the air. Youngbear had blood on his hands and there were bloody footprints in the snow where he was standing. Quigley and other officers saw the body of Severn Jefferson lying in the hallway within 30 seconds of entering the house.

Youngbear, charged with first-degree murder, is asking a federal judge to suppress any evidence found in that initial search because they didn't have a warrant. The motion claims police lacked information to search and acted solely on the basis of a 911 call. The motion also contends Youngbear was still intoxicated when police interviewed him six hours after arrest and they violated his constitutional rights because they didn't stop the interview when he asked.

Youngbear is accused of stabbing Jefferson in the upper chest and neck area while they were in Jefferson's home on the Tama settlement Feb. 24. According to testimony during a preliminary hearing, Youngbear's cousin, Joseph Youngbear, told police Jonathan Youngbear and Jefferson got into an argument and Jonathan Youngbear stabbed Jefferson. They had been smoking methamphetamine and drinking that day and the day before, according to testimony.

Former Meskwaki Nation Police Assistant Chief Jason Dunagan said Youngbear told him two others were inside when police arrived Feb. 24, but they didn't know if someone was dead or injured inside. Dunagan only removed a rifle from the living room area for safety. There was a knife with blood on it lying on the kitchen floor. but officers didn't remove it.

Roman Karas, FBI crime lab forensic chemist in Quantico, Vir., testified by video conference that Youngbear's blood alcohol level was .037 about fours hours after he was interviewed. The legal limit is .08. He extrapolated the BAC based on four hours earlier, at the time of the interview, and it would be between .109 and .137. Karas said at the high end, someone's motor skills would be affected, they could be drowsy, have some confusion and their decision-making could be affected.

Youngbear also had marijuana and methamphetamine in his system but the THC found in marijuana was inactive, which wouldn't have an effect on the body and the methamphetamine wasn't an 'abusive” amount, Karas said.

Timothy Ross Boon, Youngbear's attorney, asked if quality of a sample, the age and amount affected the test.

Karas admitted those things can affect results and the sample he analyzed wasn't sent to him until June but there were preservatives in it.

Two Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agents, who interviewed Youngbear about six hours after his arrest, testified Youngbear understood his rights and agreed to talk to them.

Special Agent in Charge Darrell Simmons said Youngbear showed no signs of intoxication.

Special Agent Matt George said Joseph Youngbear, who was interviewed before Jonathan, told him they had drank a gallon of rum and smoked methamphetamine all night and had stayed up for days but he was able to answer questions and willing to talk.

According to the motion, authorities didn't allow Youngbear to change his pants after he urinated himself while waiting to be interviewed but Simmons said he didn't know that happened until the end of the interview when Youngbear stood up and they saw his wet pants. Youngbear was already in the interview room sitting when Simmons and another agent came in. Youngbear didn't tell them until the end.

Simmons said Youngbear was allowed to shower and change his clothes after the interview and he was treated well during the interview.

Ross Boon said Youngbear said numerous times he didn't remember what happened and said he didn't want to talk about 'hitting” Jefferson.

Youngbear said he didn't want to talk about hitting Jefferson but said he would talk about other things, Simmons said.

U.S. Magistrate Jon Scoles said he would go over the attorneys' brief and watch the video interview before submitting a written ruling on the defense's motion.

Youngbear's trial is set for Feb. 23, 2015.