Medical examiner testifies to wounds that killed Kerry O’Clair Jefferson

TOLEDO - Either of the two stab wounds to Kerry O'Clair Jefferson's neck could have been the injury that killed her, a medical examiner testified Thursday in the first-degree murder trial of her husband, Dustin Jefferson.

Associate Iowa State Medical Examiner Jonathan Thompson said the autopsy showed two wounds on the left side of O'Clair Jefferson's neck, one that pierced the jugular and the other that went into the esophagus.

The wounds were likely 'applied in rapid succession,” based on their proximity, he said.

Dustin Jefferson's trial continues Friday in Tama County District Court, with the prosecution expected to wrap up and the defense to start. Jefferson, 38, is accused of aiding and abetting in the killing of his wife.

His mother, Ginger Jefferson, now 58, was convicted last year of killing her daughter-in-law on Sept. 25, 2013.

The medical examiner said O'Clair Jefferson also had blunt force injuries to her right eye, forehead and left temple and bruising on her upper chest, hands, wrist and fingers.

Thompson said O'Clair Jefferson had no 'classic” defensive wounds, which you might see when victims hold up their arms to block a knife. Dustin Jefferson lowered his eyes when the prosecutor showed the autopsy photos. He has not outwardly reacted during the trial, generally sitting still with his hands on his legs.

Assistant Iowa Attorney General Laura Roan asked Thompson if a victim were physically restrained or unconscious, could that explain the lack of defensive wounds? Thompson agreed it could.

On cross-examination, Tom Gaul, Jefferson's defense lawyer, asked if intoxication could be another reason for the lack of defensive wounds. Thompson said yes.

A toxicology report showed O'Clair Jefferson's blood alcohol level was 0.203. She also tested positive for marijuana and hydrocodone, a painkiller.

Thompson said there is no way to determine when O'Clair Jefferson last used marijuana because marijuana stays in the body for up to a month. The hydrocodone levels were within legal prescription usage, he said.

Also on Thursday, Tama County Sheriff's Detective Bruce Rhoads testified about two videos played for jurors. The first was of Jefferson's sister, Sahara Martinez, after she was found walking down a roadway, miles from Tama, where Jefferson and his mother had dropped her off.

The second video was of Jefferson being processed at the jail on the sex abuse warrant, the day of his wife's slaying, It shows Jefferson yelling, cursing and crying at times, asking if his wife is OK. Without being asked about his wife's death, he said the 'Bear Clan” was going to kill him and then a voice told him they were going to kill his wife.

Rhoads read Jefferson his Miranda rights, but Jefferson continued to ask about his wife. He said she was dead and that they were going to get a divorce but that it didn't happen. He then talked about loving her.