Lasley didn’t show signs of mental illness in 2004

Gordon Lasley Jr. had substance abuse issues, anti-social traits, anger management issues, and spent more than a year in treatment programs, according to Friday's testimony by psychiatrist and officials with juvenile treatment centers and programs.

However, none of the prosecution's rebuttal witnesses diagnosed Lasley with paranoid schizophrenia, psychosis, or a delusional disorder, which differs from the findings of two psychologists who testified for the defense earlier this week.

Lasley is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Gordon Lasley Sr. and Kim Lasley on Feb. 5. According to testimony, Lasley used a 3-foot 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.

Dr. Richard Skorey, a former contract psychiatrist with Keystone Treatment Center in Canton, S.D., said Lasley was at the center in 2004. There, Skorey diagnosed him with a substance abuse — marijuana problem, conduct disorder, and anti-social traits.

Skorey explained the testing used to make his diagnosis, noting that he used different testing than what the defense psychologists based their diagnoses upon. Lasley's profile indicated impulsive hostility; anger issues; trust issues; depressive feelings; the feeling of wanting to dominate others; fantasies about being all-powerful; and a wish to gain power to vindicate past grievances.

The testing also showed Lasley acted out in passive-aggressive ways, lacked warmth and intimacy, and had difficulty accepting failure. He also had constant negativity and had danger ideation, which Skorey said can lead to self-harm and harm to others.

On cross examination, Lasley's attorney John Burns said the testing and diagnosis from 2004 can't predict Lasley's condition today. Skorey admitted delinquent predisposition wasn't necessarily a predictor for future behavior.

Rita Hansen, former chemical dependency counselor at Keystone, testified Lasley's main problem was substance abuse but added that he had two secondary issues, anger management and 'living environment deficiency' — meaning that Lasley lived with a father who had substance abuse issues, She noted Lasley would likely relapse because he hadn't put much effort into his treatment, and that when he returned home, he planned to be around friends who used.

Hansen also said Lasley had anger issues, which he admitted to.

Jeremy Kaiser is a former case worker at Summit, a 90-day treatment program, part of the Annie Whitmeyer youth programs in Davenport. He said Lasley was sent there in 2003, based on his previous possession of marijuana conviction and probation violation. Kaiser said his evaluation showed Lasley had a substance abuse problem, didn't respect authority, lacked self discipline and had difficulty controlling his anger.

Kaiser said the only mental illness Lasley was diagnosed with was substance abuse.

On cross, Kaiser said Lasley did meet some of the goals set for respecting authority and controlling anger.

Brian Hagedon, psychologist assistant at the Boys State Training School in Eldora, said that when Lasley was 16, he was sent to the school in September 2005 based on his juvenile criminal history. At that time, his parents were divorced and living apart and Lasley had been on runaway status since March of that year.

Lasley said in the initial report that his father abused his mother, but not him.

The report also noted that Lasley had fights with peers, had set fire to a barn and committed animal cruelty by using firecrackers on a squirrel. He had characteristics consistent with substance/alcohol abuse and conduct disorder.

Hagedon said Lasley wasn't diagnosed with schizophrenia, psychosis, or delusional disorder.

The prosecution will continue its rebuttal Monday in U.S. District Court. The trial is expected to wrap up next week.