Jury sees aftermath images of 2013 dog-mauling death

The jury deciding the 2013 dog-mauling of death of 4-year old Jordyn Arndt of Prairie City endured graphic images of Arndt’s injuries Friday at the Jasper County Courthouse.

Mercy Hospital surgeon Cass Franklin, who treated Arndt the day of the incident, took the witness stand while photos of the injuries were presented to the jury.

Images presented by Jasper County Attorney Kelly Bennett showed more than a dozen lacerations on the victim’s neck.

Franklin operated on Arndt the day of the attack and testified she had “no signs of life” at the time of her arrival. After 20 minutes of chest compressions, Arndt regained a pulse, he said.

Polk County Chief Medical Examiner Gregory Schmunk performed the autopsy April 24, 2013 and testified Friday that Arndt also had lacerations on her right ankle and lower back as a result of the attack.

Both Franklin and Schmunk said the injuries were consistent to a dog attack and could have certainly been a result of the dog violently shaking its head back and forth.

Schmunk also testified the lacerations were consistent to a dog attacking from behind, which could mean Arndt had her back to the American Staffordshire terrier when it bit her.

Defendant Jena M. Wright, who was babysitting Arndt at the time of the attack, is facing charges of child endangerment resulting in death, a Class B felony, and neglect or abandonment of an independent, a Class C felony.

Former Prairie City Police Chief Louis Modlin was on scene the day of the attack, and jurors watched the former police chief’s dash cam video and heard Modlin interact with the defendant the day of the incident.

In the video, Wright is heard explaining the sequence of events that led up to the incident.

According to Modlin’s testimony, Wright told him the three children — the defendant’s daughter, 7-year-old Aden Arndt and Jordyn Arndt — were playing in the backyard. She then left the residence to run to the store and told her father-in-law to keep an eye on the kids. When she returned, she checked on the children and went back inside the house. Minutes later, Wright’s daughter came inside and said “there’s blood.”

Jordyn Arndt was already taken away by ambulance before Modlin arrived, but said he saw a large pool of blood and the 4-year-old’s boot in the backyard. He also testified Wright and her family members were completely cooperative that day.

However, Wright is also facing charges of assault on a peace officer causing bodily injury and interference with official acts in this case, which allegedly occurred a day later during her arrest.

Modlin was the arresting officer April 23, 2013 and testified Wright kicked him multiple times in the chest while he was trying to take her into custody.

The incident happened at 601 S. Norris St. in Prairie City, the defendant’s mother-in-law’s house.

After learning of Arndt’s death, Modlin said he went to place Wright under arrest, at which point the defendant was “not cooperative.” Wright tried to get away from him, but fell down a staircase near a backyard door, he said. Modlin was halfway up the stairs.

“As soon as she fell down on the stairs she rolled over on her back and began kicking and she kicked me several times in the chest,” Modlin said.

Andrea Borsch, child protection officer at the Department of Human Services, was at the residence with Modlin and also took the stand Friday. She confirmed what Modlin had previously testified, stating she witnessed Wright on her back kicking him “several times.”

She also indicated Wright was “not very quiet throughout the process.”

During Modlin’s testimony, he said he tried to grab Wright as she tried to get away and in doing so ripped the defendant’s shirt.

During cross-examination, Defense Attorney TJ Hier questioned Modlin’s actions in his attempt to grab Wright and asked him if there was any chance she could have gotten away.

“Getting away for good, no,” Modlin said. “But getting to an area where she could potentially get a weapon, yes.”

Testimony for the day ended at 4 p.m. Friday and the trial resumed at 9 a.m. Monday.

Contact Alex Olp at aolp@newtondailynews.com