Twin testifies at Lindorff trial

He says brother was beaten by biological parents in Russia

BERNIE WEISENFELD

Courier-Post

The biological parents of a Russian-born boy who died six weeks after arriving in the United States beat him with a stick, slammed his head on the floor and dumped scalding hot water on him, his twin brother testified Tuesday.

In stark contrast, a jury also saw a video that showed 5-year-old Jacob Lindorff grinning as he made a toy car's wheels spin and headlights shine in the office of a Russian orphanage.

The toy was a present from Heather and James Lindorff, a Franklin couple who adopted Jacob and now stand trial in connection with his death in 2001.

Heather Lindorff, 37, is charged with aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault and child endangerment. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison. James Lindorff, 54, is charged with child neglect.

An autopsy determined Jacob died of blunt trauma to the head.

Witnesses for the prosecution said Jacob suffered two head injuries, one shortly before he died and the other four to six weeks earlier.

Attorneys for the couple -- who adopted six Russian-born children -- have maintained Jacob's initial injury occurred in Russia. They say the second stemmed from an accidental fall while he lived with the Lindorffs.

During testimony Tuesday, Jacob's siblings -- whose identities are being protected by the court -- spoke of harsh treatment by staff in their Russian orphanage. It included beatings and being forced to walk around a tree with briars in their pants.

Jacob's twin brother -- now 7 -- testified that their biological parents brutalized them, especially Jacob.

The father beat Jacob with a horsewhip, stick and fly-swatter, leaving him with "blue and black' marks, Jacob's twin told defense attorney Stephen Patrick.

The father ridiculed Jacob and pushed him, making him fall on his head on a wooden floor, he said.

Their mother beat Jacob's head on the floor and poured hot water over his head in the bathtub after Jacob played outside without permission, leaving Jacob with blisters, he said.

As the children described torment in Russia, Heather Lindorff began to sob at the counsel table.

In contrast, discipline at the Lindorff home was benign, the children said.

For misbehavior, Heather Lindorff "would just talk to us' or send kids to their room "for a time out,' her 11-year-old daughter said.

Only one of the boys spoke of being spanked by Lindorff on the rear end. Jacob, however, reacted strangely when refused anything, they said.

"He had a fit,' the Lindorffs' 15-year-old daughter said. "He would throw himself to the floor.'

Testimony is expected to conclude today.

Reach Bernie Weisenfeld at (856) 251-3345 or bweisenfeld@courier postonline.com