Medical examiner says Raymond Ursino died of strangulation

CEDAR RAPIDS - The chief state medical examiner testified Thursday that Raymond Ursino was a chronic alcoholic diagnosed with emphysema and coronary heart disease that could have caused a heart attack - but died of strangulation.

Dr. Dennis Klein, also a forensic pathologist with the Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office, told jurors in a murder trial Thursday that Ursino had petechial hemorrhaging in his eyes, which is consistent with putting pressure on the neck and hand strangulation. Deeper layers of the neck tissue also showed force was applied and indicated Ursino was alive at the time.

Travis Standlee is charged with first-degree murder in Ursino's Sept. 5 death. Prosecutors say Standlee, 44, strangled and killed Ursino, 56, in the First Presbyterian Church parking lot at 310 Fifth St. SE.

Standlee also is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Sharon Mead, 41, whose body was found Sept. 11 near Coe College. That trial is separate and set to begin in August.

This case continues at 9 a.m. Friday in Linn County District Court.

Klein testified Ursino also suffered injuries to his head, forehead, chin and arms, which could have been caused by a flat object or from a fall to the ground. But none of those contributed to or caused his death, he said.

Ursino had fractures to his thyroid cartilage, which can break like a bone, and hemorrhaging around the carotid artery in the neck, Klein said. Klein also determined it was a death by strangulation by the way the fracture was pushed in - 'like a squeeze.”

Klein said a toxicology screen showed Ursino had a .369 blood alcohol content level, but that didn't cause his death. Iowa's legal limit for driving is 08.

David Grinde, Standlee's attorney, on cross examination went over Ursino's medical history, pointing out that broken blood vessels alone can't determine strangulation, which Klein confirmed.

Grinde asked if there was any bruising or finger or hand impressions on Ursino's neck. Klein said no.

'And you don't know who Ursino came into contact with before this incident?” Grinde asked.

Klein said he didn't know.

A juror was excused in the midst of Klein's testimony after he passed out.

Sixth Judicial District Chief Judge Patrick Grady excused the juror out of caution for his health. The jury still has one alternate for a total of 13.

In other testimony, Cedar Rapids police Lt. Ryan Abodeely said a passer-by early that day reported a body in the church parking lot. Ursino's body was behind the church in the southeast corner of the parking lot.

Abodeely said initially he didn't think Ursino's death was suspicious. Ursino was found on his back and had no visible injuries. Officers then started looking at area surveillance camera images.

Abodeely said one of the videos shows Ursino and 'another person” walking together. Then they have a confrontation before going down to the ground together. Both stayed on the ground for about 28 minutes before one got up.

The surveillance video will be shown Friday when another investigator is expected to testify.