CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A jury found three Cedar Rapids men not guilty of all charges Friday in the death of their 18-year-old brother, Ezekiel Baseme.
Azane, Christian and Pierre Baseme each faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, assault causing bodily injury and false imprisonment. The jury acquitted all three on every count.
Brothers accused of restraining Ezekiel
The brothers were accused of tying Ezekiel to a bed in November 2024, which prosecutors alleged unintentionally caused his death. A state autopsy determined the cause of death was starvation and dehydration related to physical restraint. Associate State Medical Examiner Rory Deol, who performed the autopsy, said the condition of the body made some details difficult to determine but said being restrained contributed to Ezekiel’s death.
First responders found Ezekiel dead in his Cedar Rapids home in November 2024 after the family called in his death. Deol said the body showed signs of skin sloughing and bloating at the time of examination.
Christian Baseme’s account to police
Christian told police that Ezekiel stopped attending school in person in 2023 after struggling to focus in class. After transitioning to online courses, Christian said Ezekiel became increasingly uncomfortable in public and had not left his home since March 2024…