Bean trial begins in Sigourney

The trial of Ainsworth resident Rodney Lee ?Joe? Bean began Monday in Sigourney with the selection of jurors. Bean is charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection to the death of 78-year-old Joye L. Gentzler. The case was originally going to be tried in Washington County but was moved to Keokuk County by Judge James Blomgren two weeks ago. Washington County Attorney Larry Brock is prosecuting the case. Bean?s defense attorney is Davis Foster of Foster Law Office in Iowa City.  

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 Bean and his estranged wife, Lori Jo Bean, were charged with involuntary manslaughter in February 2010. Gentzler spent the final 14 months of her life at the Beans? home in Ainsworth.

Rodney Bean was charged by the State of Iowa with a total of nine counts including three counts of dependent adult abuse, three counts of first degree theft, neglect or abandonment and nonsupport of a dependent adult. The three counts of dependent adult abuse are broken down into intentional serious injury, reckless serious injury, and exploitation of assets greater than $100.      

Lori Jo Bean was found guilty of manslaughter at a trial in December 2010. In February, she was sentenced to five years of probation. She was given a suspended sentence of 17 years in prison, which she will not serve barring misconduct during her probation.  

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 Funeral 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 Rodney 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.

At the time the affidavit was prepared in April 2008, Holsapple wrote that he was reviewing Gentzler?s medical record, and that he had found no records indicating that Gentzler received any medical care or prescriptions after June 2006.  

Rodney Bean took Gentzler to live with him and his family around January 2007, according to the affidavit. Washington County Public Health attempted to make contact with Gentzler after this time but was unable to do so.   

Gentzler?s only income during this time was $642 per month in social security benefits. Holsapple wrote that Bean had control of those funds, and that the balance in Gentzler?s bank account at the time of her death was $40.57. According to bank statements reviewed during the investigation, there was a deposit of a check written out to Gentzler from Rodney Bean in November 2007. Bank statements further revealed that there were two checks, one for $7,000 and another for $3,000, that were written from Gentzler back to Rodney Bean.