Man charged in son’s 2005 Iowa City murder

Man charged in son’s 2005 Iowa City murder

The Gazette

IOWA CITY - A former Iowa City resident is charged with second-degree murder in the beating death of his adopted 21-month-old son in Johnson County nearly three years ago.

Brian Dale Dykstra, 31, who now lives in Central, S.C., surrendered to police at 4:28 a.m. Saturday after a warrant was issued for his arrest Thursday. He posted a $15,000 bond and left the Johnson County Jail early Saturday morning.

Police say Dykstra intentionally caused the death of his infant son, Isaac, while he was the boy’s sole caretaker Aug. 13, 2005. The boy died one day later.

Attempts to reach Brian Dykstra and his family were unsuccessful Saturday.

Isaac Jonathan Dykstra was born Nov. 18, 2003, in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, and had been adopted by Brian and Lisa Dykstra just months before his death, police said.

On Aug. 13, 2005, officers were sent Dykstra’s residence at 918 Ginter Ave. after receiving an abandoned 911 call from the home. On callback, a dispatcher spoke with Dykstra, who said Isaac was possibly having a “little seizure” and had difficulty breathing. He also said he felt the problem might be related to a head injury.

Emergency crews found Isaac unconscious on the living room floor, with labored breathing and apparent head injuries with visible bruising. Officers said they found Dykstra’s explanation of the incident to be “suspicious, incomplete and inconsistent with the observed injuries and scene.”

Isaac was taken by ambulance to University Hospitals, where doctors determined he was suffering from such life-threatening injuries as massive brain swelling, severe bleeding inside the skull and retinal swelling in both eyes. He also had severe bruising elsewhere on his body, including his torso and legs. Doctors said the injuries had occurred earlier in the day and were inconsistent with Brian Dykstra’s explanations.

Despite emergency brain surgery, Isaac never regained consciousness and was pronounced brain-dead on Aug. 14, 2005.

Shortly thereafter, Iowa City police and the Division of Criminal Investigation started a suspicious death investigation, and after reviewing medical records and other evidence, concluded that Isaac died from head trauma inflicted while in the sole custody and care of his father.