Lori Jo Bean found guilty of manslaughter

    Ainsworth resident Lori Jo Bean was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter Monday afternoon by a jury of her peers. Bean was found guilty on the other six counts she was charged with, which were three counts of dependent adult abuse, one count of second-degree theft, neglect of a dependent person and nonsupport of a dependent adult. Bean?s sentencing hearing will be Feb. 14. In the interim, Bean is on supervised release. The trial of her husband Rodney ?Joe? Bean, who is also charged with manslaughter, is March 1.

    Bean was convicted of committing manslaughter against Joye L. Gentzler, who died on Feb. 27, 2008 at the age of 78. Gentzler spent the final 14 months of her life at the Beans? home in Ainsworth.

    Medical Investigator Kevin Kleopfer was called to look into Gentzler?s death. Kleopfer testified at the trial that he estimated Gentzler?s weight at 70 pounds at the time of her death. Nurse practitioner Susan Reynolds testified that Gentzler weighed 124 pounds at one of her medical visits in February 2006, and weighed 130 pounds when her weight was taken in May 2006.

    Kleopfer told Dr. Robin Plattenberger to review Gentzler?s body because he thought an autopsy should be ordered. Plattenberger ordered an autopsy, which was performed by Dr. Marcus Nashelsky at the University of Iowa. Nashelsky reported 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. He also reported that Gentzler had several fractured ribs and a broken right arm which was not functional.

For the full story, see the Dec. 14 edition of The Washington Evening Journal