By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – While a judge last month authorized the release of the body of a 3-year-old boy whose October death has been ruled a homicide, it remains at the Lewis County Coroner’s Office because the parents don’t agree on which funeral home to use.
Coroner Warren McLeod is asking a judge to intervene.
Jasper Henderling-Warner
“This is something we’ve never come across,” McLeod said. “All I want is for Jasper to be released so he can be at rest.”
Jasper Henderling-Warner died from what the coroner called chronic battered child syndrome. The Vader couple who were caring for him, Danny and Brenda Wing, remain jailed pending a trial.
McLeod said his office has been in contact with the child’s mother, Nikki Warner who lives in the Vancouver area and his father, Casey Henderling who resides in Kelso. They are not married. The two agree Jasper should be cremated and his ashes split between them, McLeod said.
She wants to use a mortuary in Battle Ground, he’s picked out one in Longview, he said.
McLeod said state law allows him to release a decedent to the surviving parents, but doesn’t specify anything further such as the parent who has custody. He’s holding on to the body until he knows which funeral home to turn it over to, he said.
Last week, McLeod filed a civil action in Lewis County Superior Court. McLeod on Tuesday said he understands the papers would be served upon each parent this week. Then they have 20 days to respond.
The mother told detectives she and the Wings agreed they would be his guardians for a year beginning at the end of July, that she was homeless and traveling out of state to look for work.
Jasper died Oct. 5; the Wings were arrested Nov. 7 and charged with homicide by abuse; or, in the alternative, first-degree manslaughter.
The coroner said his office kept the boy’s body following the autopsy, in case defense attorneys wanted to conduct a second examination, which sometimes happens. On Jan. 28, McLeod was notified he no longer had to hold Jasper for the criminal case.
He said his office has been in contact with Jasper’s parents by phone, by email and even tried to get them in a room together to settle their disagreement.
“We’ve gone as far as we can go, we’re at an impasse,” he said.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Try losing a child then read all the comments on here. About how bad you are and worthless. Then maybe you would think twice before posting stupid shit. Honestly half of you probably dont know what you are talking about.
they need to be taken to court today, give them 48 hours to decide where he gets creamated. If they still can’t agree, then let us have a memorial service for him. I’m sure we would be able to lay him to rest in a much more tasteful way then they could. With alot more love than they could. And no the parents should not get his ashes or anything else from this precious baby. Now take them to court and lay that baby to rest. Let us know and we could all do it,!!! now.!!!for goodness sake. And don’t allow them to go. He doesn’t need the devil there to lay him to rest. His ashes should be released in a beautiful, peaceful spot, so he can finally rest in peace. He didn’t have peace in his life, but we can give it to him In death.
I can’t fix what happened, but I’ll pay for her to get fixed to preven it again!
Except in the documents filed in LC Superior Court it indicates there was a chance for the two to sit down at the prosecutor’s office with no danger of the no contact order to work this out and that did not happen.
It is not about money any more. Both want Jasper cremated and the ashes divided between them. The freaking mortuary choice is what is separating them from doing this. COME ON!!!
Here is the situation. The father had already had his memorial. The mother has the funds for Jaspers memorial, she would just like to have his ashes there. There is a no contact order and the parents cannot communicate at all in this matter. I can just tell you that his mother loved him very much and is in recovery, making huge positive changes in her life. She is not the same person.
I think the judge should split the ashes between the parents and then each parent have a service of their choice. Each parent could have a service on separate days so the other may attend. Really people its not about anything else at all, but this little boy and that’s it.
If I remember correctly there had been a go fund me account to raise money for a funeral/cremation. Again it is not about money but the fact the two parents cannot agree on which mortuary to direct the coroner to release Jasper to.
this is just for all the people whom did not know the parent…. the mother knew the people that took jasper in to thier care.. the wings were her adopted parents additions to the famil… so to say…. you didnt get the chance to know and see how the mother did take care of her child… and made the best choice she thaught she had… what people don’t know is that the wings refused any contact between them… and they jumped between places.. and the wings did not arrive to destionations that were scedualed….. soooo… as to judge some one .. is to be judge themselves… so why dont u all … go sit on it …
Well Stephanie , four months is a long time to leave a so called beloved child in he mortuary, and they were not so aggrieved they couldn’t manage to solicit the public for money right after his death , I agree this is not a money issue the state will surely pay for his finally remains to be dealt with, and no we the people will probably not shut the hell up as you so eloquently put it. We have a right to be out raged at the cavalier way people treat the safety of their children. We have to license our pets , our guns , even our bartenders , but we can be the scum of the earth and still be a parent who can hand her child over to whomever she wants. Do you really think there is ever going to be one tiny bit of sympathy for these so called parents???
Hey Stephanie/dumbass .. its not about money .. it about 2 low life patents that want nothing more then not take responsiblity of the mess they created by letting others take care of their son .. your stupid
All of you people need to shut the hell up. You have no idea what you are talking about. Not everyone has money and they are still grieving. Go to hell all of you! Rip Jasper
This child doesn’t have a person in this whole world who cares about him. RIP little angel. Sad way to die, but I think he’s better off where he is now.
Unbelievable! I agree with Lorna above. Why do they even still have parental rights. Truly messed up people. Tears your heart out.
Let Jasper RIP.
It is not a matter of paying for the cremation. The law outlines who can make final arrangements and was obviously not designed to deal with people who cannot put their deceased child before their won petty differences. As long as both are “surviving parents” they both have equal “claim” to poor Jasper.
The court action has been filed in LC Superior Court meaning it will either go before Judge Hunt, Brosey or Lawler. Neither of the three will have much patience with the parents over this I am sure.
Both want cremation with half the ashes split. Get on with it!!!!!!
There isn’t one of us out here who would not pay for and arrange the cremation if that were only the simple case. I certainly hope the county tries to recoup any court costs back from these folks as well.
So very sad that in death that his parents don’t seem to want to agree on what would be the best place to have him cremated and laid to rest. I don’t understand why they still have parental rights when they certainly used poor judgment about who to have take care of little Jasper when he was alive. There are so many adults like myself who would love to have been a parent but were not able to have children due to inability to conceive. I would also pay for his cremation to lay him to rest but no ashes to either parent, they don’t deserve any part of him.
There are no words to accurately describe these vile people~
Let the community take over this baby boy and we will give him a proper burial. Lets release this precious soul from the evils still around him.
I would be more than happy to pay for the little guy to be put to rest. I hope that the other craps involved rot in hell.
All those parents are is a sperm donor and a vessel. Nothing more. Should not even have the title of parent. They don’t know the first thing about being a parent.
This truly make me feel sick. God bless his little soul.
Sweet, beautiful, little Jasper never has to feel pain or insecurity by the cruel hands of his “genetic producers.” They do not deserve to take his little battered body. They didn’t love and care for him when he was alive. They don’t deserve him in death. So many people failed Jasper. Unbelievable, fighting over the funeral home! Go back under your rocks where you crawled out from.
This is a very sad case. This little guy needs to be laid to rest. I know his pain is over now but still come on. Whatever differences you may have let the go for his sake.
Are you kidding me right now??the parents didnt care enough to raise thier child in rhe first place, how is it they have any rights to any decisions, shame on all of them!!this child has endured enough pain. Let him be laid to rest properly. He deserves to at least rest in peace comfortably. Ugghhh
I hope everyone involved gets hit by a bus.
The parents shouldn’t be allowed to have this little boy, if there gonna fight over something so petty as where he is to be cremated. I will pay for his cremation if someone will allow me. This little boy needs to be put to REST….
Even in death…an unloved pawn for his parents bitterness, and dysfunction. Thankful his soul is at rest, and his great pain and misery has stopped.
Clearly, no one wanted or loved this child. How sad.
OBVIOUSLY they should have never had a child if they couldn’t take care of him in the first place & now that hes gone they are being so childish over something so important! Just let the boy rest in peace!!!