News : Samanta Bevans Trial: Day 2, Part 1 (Family Testimony and Medical Examiner)

Vinton Today - Samanatha Bevans Trial: Day 1

Mr. Bevans

In the second day of testimony in the murder trial of Jodie Bevans, Bevans' husband Mike continued his testimony. Upon his entry into the courtroom yesterday, his daughter, the accused, Samantha briefly turned her face away from him hiding behind her attorney's back.

Establishing the family, Assistant Iowa Attorney General, Monty Platz, asked him to identify his children. He included his two daughters and granddaughter whom he adopted. The attorney walked through the events of the day of Jodie's death.

Mr. Bevans testified that the family had interrupted their camping trip to investigate Jodie's whereabouts upon her failure to show up to work and failing to make it to the campsite.

Upon entering his bedroom, he saw his wife's legs. Protecting her father from the scene, he was quickly ushered out by his daughter Kellie who also works in law enforcement. He said he was told that "this is not a normal death." He reiterated the same answers given by others concerning the lock on the door that wasn't normally locked but had been upon their return on Friday.

Mr. Bevans was asked about the relationship and interactions between himself, Jodie and daughter Samantha as well as Tacoa Talley the boyfriend. He testified that he did not want Samantha to move back into the house, but that his wife, Jodie had made that decision. He explained that only Samantha was allowed in the house but none of her friends. At the time, she was in a relationship with Talley and the two share children, but Talley was told not to return to the family home because of issues with Jodie.

When the couple became aware that Tacoa had been on the property, they placed a gun next to the bed for protection. One morning Mr. Bevans awoke to find Talley in his kitchen. Talley then offered Mr. Bevans some food.

After Samantha had returned to the home, things started missing. He cited a pair of binoculars, Jodie's jewelry, his jewelry, sentimental items that he was keeping, items went missing from his youngest daughter as well. Around June of 2022 the couple kicked Samantha out of the house again.

Toward the end of the testimony on Tuesday, there was a discussion about a hammer that was discovered in the closet of the Bevans' bedroom. Mr. Bevans testified that it was never kept in the bedroom and had no reason to be there.

The defense attorney Lindsay Garner, resumed questioning on Wednesday morning. "Tacoa Talley had hit on Jodie, is that correct?" Jodie's husband responded that he had been told by Jodie that this was the case. "Jodie was scared to death of him?" the attorney asked of Mr. Bevans. "As long as I wasn't there with her." The attorney continued. "You said that Mr. Talley was dangerous, correct?" Mr. Bevans responded, "I wasn't afraid of him. Not to me no, To my wife yes."

"You knew of abuse between Mr. Talley and Samantha right?" he was asked.

"I've heard but I've never seen anything," he responded.

He was questioned about whether or not his gun next to the bed is always loaded. In the last case under oath, he said no. In court today he said, "Not while the grandchildren were there." The attorney pressured him asking him if he was lying under oath in the last hearing. He explained that the question was asked differently. Continuing to press him on the issue, the States' Attorney objected, "Asked and answered." the judge instructed Attorney Garner to move on.

The questioning ended with a summary of Samantha and Jodie's relationship. Mr. Bevans explained that the two got along at the beginning when Samantha moved in but then the relationship soured.

It ended with the question, "Samantha was getting SSI, right?" Mr. Bevans answered, "Yes."

Medical Examiner

The State called their next witness called was Dr. Dennis Klein, employed by the State of Iowa as a Medical Examiner. He explained the procedure for autopsies performed in his care. He cited the injuries to Jodie Bevans. There was an abrasion on the right lower corner of her mouth, and both sides of her face. This is caused by something rubbing across her face.

Around the top of her cheek was a Periorbital Hemetoma, (meaning around the eye, edema filled with blood caused by impact) something hit her causing the damage around her left eye. The eyes are also examined because there is a clear membrane layer covering the eyes. If the blood vessels burst, it tells forensic pathologists that there has been asphyxiation from sustained pressure preventing oxygen, usually from hanging, suffocation, or car accidents where victims are pinned. They did find this in both eyes.

Upon an internal examination, they found bleeding in the muscles of the neck. This indicates an injury maybe if someone fell against a tub, again in a car accident, or impact or pressure. Inside the head was hemorrhaging in the muscles and membrane caused by an impact to the head or a struggle. There were abrasions along each side of the nose with bruising above the left eye. One contusion was observed on the front of her left forearm about 1/2 inch contusion as well abraisions on her right buttock.

It was determined that the cause of death was asphyxia.

Family

Also testifying was Jodie and Mike's granddaughter. She lived in the home at the time that Samantha had moved in. She was not in favor of the idea of Samantha returning to the home. She said that the first week that Samantha moved in things went well, but after the first week things went downhill.

When asked if she had knowledge that Talley had stolen things from the home she indicated that he had. Samantha had also stolen money from her. Shortly after she moved back home, Talley was discovered on the property and his electronic device showed up on the wifi. He was later discovered in the barn.

Following this event, Samantha was kicked off of the property. After the removal, a security camera was installed in the kitchen. The granddaughter helped to install the equipment and access to the footage.

Samantha and the granddaughter communicated often via text.

During the camping trip, Samantha collected information about Jodie's whereabouts and who was at the campsite the day before Jodie's death. Samantha was not allowed to join the family on the camping trip and was upset at not being invited. Testimony indicated that Samantha wanted to come to the campgrounds, but would only be allowed to if permission was granted by Jodie.

In the past, the witness testified that Samantha had blamed Jodie for things that went wrong in her life. She was mad at Jodie for several things. Samantha would communicate her anger to the granddaughter.

The granddaughter also corroborated the fact that when the family found out that Jodie had not reported to work that day. When everyone returned home she wanted to go home with the family to see what was happening.

The State showed the witness Exhibit 2, which is the note that said, "Kill Jodie." When asked if the witness recognized the handwriting she said, "Yes, it's Samantha's," at the defense table, Samantha nodded along in agreement.

When asked if Talley had physically abused Samantha, the witness answered that they both hit each other. When asked again, she repeated, "I saw them hit each other." For the third attempt she was asked, "But you saw Tacoa hit your mother?" and she answered yes. She also indicated that the two would fight, Talley would get kicked out and then he would be back. When asked, "Would she take him back?" the witness responded, "Every time."

She was also asked if she knew that Talley did not believe that Samantha was diabetic. She indicated that he did not believe it. She also agreed with the statement that Talley had given Samantha insulin shots while she slept causing her to sleep longer and injected her with other substances.

When asked if Samantha and Jodie got along, she said, "When she (Samantha) wanted something. She indicated that when Tacoa came along, problems started.