Medical expert says baby could have died from fall

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A medical expert testifying at the trial of a man charged with killing his infant son in Iowa City says the child could have suffered fatal head injuries from a fall and appeared fine for days.

Janice Ophoven, a pediatric forensic pathologist from Minnesota, took the stand on Monday at the second-degree murder trial of Brian Dykstra. He’s charged in the death of his son, Isaac, in 2005. Dykstra was arrested in 2008.

The Gazette reports Ophoven testified that Dykstra’s explanation that his son fell down two stairs three days before he was rushed to a hospital is plausible. The boy died a hospital.

Dykstra’s ex-wife, Lisa DeWaard, also testified Monday. They adopted Isaac from Russia. DeWaard talked about the adoption process and said Dykstra immediately bonded with him.