Ainsworth residents Rodney and Lori Bean charged with manslaughter

    Ainsworth residents Rodney Lee Bean and Lori Jo Bean have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection to the death of 78-year-old Joye L. Gentzler in 2008. According to the affidavit of Washington County Deputy Eric Holsapple, Gentzler was a dependent adult who was staying with Rodney Bean at 3294 Old White Way in Ainsworth at the time of her death on Feb. 27, 2008.

    Both Rodney, 51, and Lori, 50, have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and have waived the right to a speedy trial. Their trial has been set for June 22.

    In his affidavit, Holsapple states that he learned of Gentzler?s death on Feb. 27, 2008, from Washington County Medical Examiner Dr. Robin Plattenberger. Dr. Plattenberger went to Jones and Eden Funderal Home to view the body, and requested an autopsy be completed by Dr. Marcus Nashelsky at the University of Iowa.

    Holsapple spoke to Nashelsky in March 2008 about the autopsy, and Nashelsky told Holsapple that Gentzler had several fractured ribs and a broken right arm that was non-functional. Nashelsky also told Holsapple that Gentzler weighed 70 pounds at the time of autopsy and that she weighed 130 pounds nearly two years prior in May 2006. Nashelsky reported to Holsapple that Gentzler had several bedsores on her right hip.

    In April 2008, Nashelsky completed his autopsy report and ruled that Gentzler?s death was a homicide, that the cause of death was malnutrition and dehydration, and that Alzheimer?s disease and multiple blunt force trauma were contributing factors. 

    Holsapple also stated that through an investigation he discovered that Gentzler had sold property to Rodney Bean in 2002, and had given him power of attorney in 2004. The purchase price of the property was $21,000 and the value at the time was approximately $80,000. In his affidavit, Holsapple states that Bean canceled the medications Gentzler was receiving through Washington County Public Health in June 2006. Public health records show that Gentzler had been diagnosed with dementia.

For the full article, see our Feb. 23 print edition.