Alicia Ritenour Finishes Testimony, Presentation Of Evidence Concludes
By Eduardo Zamarripa, CRI Weekly News
Alicia Ritenour finished her testimony on Monday, concluding the presentation of evidence in her trial.
Alicia Ritenour has been charged with murder in the first degree, and child endangerment, in the death of her 18-month old daughter Ava Ritenour. Alicia Ritenour has pled not guilty to both charges.
On Friday, Jan. 24, officers found 18-month old Ava Ritenour deceased after responding to a 911 call at the Southern Hills Apartment Complex.
According to the affidavit released by the Oskaloosa Police Department, the infant had been deceased “for a significant period of time” when they arrived on scene. A witness said it heard a loud thump during the middle of the night, of the previous night, according to the affidavit.
An autopsy was performed at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner on the body of Ava Ritenour on Jan. 25 and 26. It was determined that the cause of death had been trauma to the head. The manner of death was classified as a homicide, according to the police report.
Alicia Ritenour began her testimony on Friday (Nov. 14). The trial picked up on Monday with Alicia Ritenour being cross-examined by the state.
Assistant Attorney General Susan Krisko asked Alicia Ritenour about the different versions she offered the police in the three interviews she gave. Krisko asked Alicia Ritenour about Joshua Crouse’s testimony, a paramedic at Mahaska Health Partnership at the time, in which Crouse said Alicia Ritenour told him she had fed Ava Ritenour cereal upon returning from driving her cousin Abigail Parker to school. This has been a disputed detail throughout the course of the trial. Alicia Ritenour testified on Friday that she fed Ava Ritenour before driving Parker to school.
Alicia Ritenour responded to Krisko by saying she didn’t remember what she had told Crouse and reminded the court several times that she has “very bad memory.”
Krisko then questioned Alicia Ritenour about telling the authorities that Ava Ritenour would typically go to bed around 9 p.m. and wake up at around 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. Krisko asked Alicia Ritenour whether it would have been unusual for her to feed Ava Ritenour before driving Parker to school.
“No, that would not have been unusual,” Alicia Ritenour said.
Krisko questioned Alicia Ritenour on what she told the authorities about the night before Ava Ritenour passed away. In an interview on Jan. 31, Alicia Ritenour said Jacob Rauch did not check in on Ava Ritenour that evening. Rauch said in his testimony last Thursday (Nov. 13) that he did check in on Ava Ritenour.
But in an interview with the police after the deposition on Oct. 27, Alicia Ritenour said Rauch did go in to check on Ava Ritenour.
Krisko also asked Alicia Ritenour if she left the shower after hearing a “loud bang” to check on Ava Ritenour the evening before her passing. Alicia Ritenour said she “didn’t remember.”
Throughout the cross examination, Krisko asked Alicia Ritenour several times to read part of the transcripts of the interviews she provided the authorities. On multiple occasions, Alicia Ritenour said “I don’t remember saying that.”
Krisko also questioned Alicia Ritenour about the vanilla-colored blanket covering Ava Ritenour when her body was found. On Friday, Alicia Ritenour said in her testimony that Logan Cavan was on the floor covered with a vanilla-colored blanket that belonged to Alicia’s grandparents before driving Parker to school. When Alicia Ritenour returned to the apartment, she said Cavan was now on the couch covered with a pink blanket.
Krisko said Alicia Ritenour never mentioned Cavan using a different blanket in her three interviews with the authorities.
“I have a bad memory. I’m really trying here,” Alicia Ritenour said.
Krisko also asked Alicia Ritenour about a specific Facebook post on her page that was referenced last Thursday. The post said that everywhere she steps there’s “piss” and said “my life’s like a big ball of s**t.” The defendant’s attorney, Michael Adams, said on Friday, and again on Monday, that the post references an Eminem song called “Run Rabbit Run.”
Adams asked Alicia Ritenour why she posted that quote, and the defendant said she likes Eminem and likes the song.
Adams also asked Alicia Ritenour whether she disputed the accuracy of the transcripts of the interviews she gave the police, Alicia Ritenour responded “yes.”
After Alicia Ritenour left the stand and after the jury was dismissed, Adams made a motion for a judgment of acquittal. This means Adams was asking the court to clear Alicia Ritenour of both of her charges claiming that the state has not proven she is guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The judge denied the motion, saying there is is substantial evidence on record.
The defense rested and all the evidence for the case has now been submitted. The trial is now on recess, and the closing arguments and deliberations will begin at 1:30 p.m.
To read a detailed summary of the first day of the trial, click here. To read a detailed summary of the second day of the trial, click here.
