Sac County Attorney, Ben Smith, released a statement today (Friday) saying his office’s investigation into an unusual head injury sustained by a Lake View man last month is attributed to a fall associated with a preexisting health condition. On Saturday, May 20 at approximately 1 a.m., 50-year-old Stanley “Sam” Mortensen II was found unconscious in the 100 block of W. 4th Street with an apparent head injury from what was initially believed to be an assault. Mortensen was later airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines after his condition worsened. The Lake View Police Department turned the case over to the Sac County Sheriff’s Office for investigation. Following his review of physical evidence, over 30 witness interviews, several search warrants, and thousands of documents and text messages, Smith and investigators concluded Mortensen’s injury “was likely the direct result of a fall caused by a medical condition for which he had been previously treated, exacerbated by health issues Mortensen was experiencing at the time and not the consequence of any criminal act.” Smith also directly dispelled any rumors concerning James McKellar and Jenifer Roeder, who were seen near Mortensen minutes before the injury occurred. According to Smith, security camera recordings prove with near certainty that neither person had been involved. Per Sac County Attorney’s Office policy, the investigation into the incident will remain open until the statute of limitations expires. Anybody with firsthand information concerning Mortensen’s injury is asked to contact the Sac County Sheriff’s Office by calling 712-662-7127. A full copy of Smith’s statement is included below.
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Mortensen-Investigation-Press-Release-2023-06-30
