Jena Wright was charged with child endangerment and neglect of a dependent person in the death of 4-year-old Jordyn Arndt in April of 2013.
FRIDAY TESTIMONY:
Friday, we're learning more about the fatal injuries 4-year-old Jordyn Arndt sustained when a dog attacked and killed her in 2013.
Jena Wright was babysitting her at the time and faces 35 years in prison.
The Mercy trauma surgeon who treated Jordyn told the jury a violent shaking of the neck could have caused the injuries she sustained. The prosecuting attorney showed several graphic photos of Jordyn's injuries.
Dr. Cass Franklin counted nine lacerations on the right side of Jordyn's face, four on the left side of her neck and two additional lacerations on the back of her neck.
He said she had no signs of life when she arrived at Mercy Medical Center, about an hour after the attack.
Franklin said it was the worst dog attack injuries he has seen.
Doctors were able to get a pulse and blood pressure back after another 20 minutes of CPR, but ultimately couldn't save her.
The jury also heard from the Polk County medical examiner. He said without intervention, 15-30 minutes would be the longest he would expect someone of Jordyn's size and age to survive these type of injuries.
He also said her cause of death was multiple canine bites to the neck.
THURSDAY TESTIMONY:
In the prosecution's opening statement, the attorney described several situations where Wright's dog showed vicious tendencies.
He told the jury Wright's dog attacked another dog, and says Wright's neighbor kept a bat in his garage for protection against her dog.
In tears on the witness stand, Jordyn Arndt's mother, Jessica, described her daughter as a very kind, beautiful girl who loved animals.
"She loved to play outside, but she loved to get dressed up too," said Arndt.
She told the courtroom she trusted 26-year-old Jena Wright to watch Jordyn, because they had been friends for more than a decade.
"Who better than to have watch your children than your best friend? There isn't anyone better is there, seemed like a good idea at the time," said Arndt.
She admits she didn't originally blame Wright for the attack until she got to the hospital and saw her daughter's severe wounds.
"At the time, but then I heard what actually happened and when you get more details you tend to change your mind," said Jessica Arndt.
"She had a large wound on her side of her face and also on the what appeared to be the back of her head and some marks on her neck area," said Carl Van Der Kamp, one of the EMTs who responded to the scene.
He said that when he arrived at the home, he found Jordyn lying motionless with no pulse and surrounded by blood.
Jasper County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy Burdt who also there helping described the dog Brutus as aggressive.
"I was in fear enough that I told him that if the dog had gotten loose that it would not have ended well for the dog," said Bundt. "That I would have shot the dog."
The prosecuting attorney pointed out several occasions where Brutus showed vicious tendencies and told the jury Wright was well aware of the dog's aggressive history.
But the defense attorney argued Wright did not know about the dog's past and that Jordyn could have attacked because the dog was provoked.
(KCCI - May 8, 2015)
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