Psychologist says Nicholas Luerkens had major depressive disorder

CEDAR RAPIDS - A psychologist testified Thursday that Nicholas Luerkens suffered from major depressive disorder at the time he killed Lynnsey Donald, but couldn't say Luerkens had diminished mental capacity when he committed the crime.

Luis Rossell, a forensic psychologist in Mount Pleasant, said he evaluated Luerkens on May 18 and found he had five symptoms of the disorder for more than two weeks, which is the diagnostic criteria. Luerkens had a depressed mood, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, suicidal ideation and difficulty concentrating.

Rossell said Luerkens couldn't remember that he stabbed and killed former girlfriend Donald on April 21.

Luerkens, 33, is charged with first-degree murder. According to testimony Tuesday, Luerkens attacked Donald, 29, as she was leaving the Marion Hy-Vee with her 7-year-old son. Luerkens stabbed her multiple times, numerous witnesses testified Tuesday. According to the autopsy, she was stabbed 32 times in the neck, chest, stomach and back. After killing her, he stabbed and injured himself.

The defense rested and closing arguments will be 11 a.m. Friday in Linn County District Court. The jury will start deliberations in the afternoon. Follow Gazette reporter Trish Mehaffey's live coverage from the courtroom.

Rossell said the disorder is usually treated with anti-depressants and drinking alcohol, and abusing illegal drugs like marijuana and methamphetamine isn't recommended. Luerkens had been prescribed Paxil and was self-medicating with the alcohol and drugs, which had been reported by his family to Rossell.

There can be side effects with some anti-depressants such as agitation and suicidal ideation, Rossell said. Research has shown Paxil causes adverse side effects in some. Discontinuing Paxil has caused violent behavior in some individuals, according to the research.

Rossell said he spent about three hours with Luerkens doing the evaluation. He also took into account all the police reports, the surveillance tape and the police vehicle dash camera tape, interviews with family members, medical reports, text messages Luerkens sent to Donald and his family and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation lab reports.

The defense and prosecution stipulated to enter the lab reports into evidence, which showed Luerkens had marijuana, methamphetamine, amphetamines and cocaine in his system on April 21. The report also showed he had a .115 BAC that day. The legal driving limit is .08.

On cross, Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden asked Rossell if Luerkens' actions in the video show the crime was premeditated.

Rossell said based on what he saw, Luerkens knew she was going to be at the Marion Hy-Vee that day and he attacked her.

Vander Sanden only had one rebuttal witness after Rossell, but it caught the defense off guard.

Linn County Sheriff's Dep. Chad Shover testified he was in the ICU with Luerkens after doctors removed the breathing tube following surgery and Luerkens looked up at him and said 'I know I committed the ultimate crime.”

Dave Grinde, Luerkens' lawyer asked if he put it in a report and Shover said he did and it was sent over to Vander Sanden's office.

In earlier testimony, Luerkens' sister and brother and two friends also testified about how his behavior drastically changed after he lost his job and Donald ended their relationship. They said he had erratic behavior, didn't take care of personal hygiene, was depressed and distanced himself from the family.

McKenzie Luerkens, his sister, testified on Easter, April 12, her brother looked pale and was shaking. She said was normally the 'life of the party,” but he was lonely and depressed. Her brother went outside and sat by himself and was crying at some point.

McKenzie said her brother asked her and her parents to help him die when they saw him in the hospital after Donald's death.