By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The criminal case of the 3-year-old boy who died while in the care of a Vader couple last autumn continues to drag on.
Danny and Brenda Wing, both 27, have pleaded guilty under an agreement in which they’ve promised to share information with authorities and undergo polygraph examinations.
Jasper Henderling-Warner
Jasper Henderling-Warner died from what the coroner labeled chronic battered child syndrome last Oct. 5.
Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead back in May sought and was granted permission for sentencing to be held off, because, he said, the investigation was still ongoing.
In July, Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer revealed criminal charges could be filed against others. He didn’t rule out the little boy’s mother.
Brenda Wing was scheduled to be sentenced today in Lewis County Superior Court, but the hearing has been delayed. Danny Wing went before a judge last Friday when Halstead got a postponement for his sentencing.
Danny WIng’s lawyer opposed waiting, according to court documents.
Halstead last week said he is still waiting for unspecified things to happen in the case – including the polygraph tests – and it’s taking longer than he thought.
Each of the two have pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and third-degree child assault. They both face a standard sentencing range of between 146 months and 194 months in prison.
However, if they don’t hold up their end of the bargain, prosecutors indicate in court documents they could add so-called enhancements, leaving the Wings facing terms up to life.
Authorities have spoken about the little boy’s injuries, but nothing has been shared publicly about how he got them.
The formal statements of guilt don’t offer much insight, as Danny Wing said he recklessly caused Jasper’s death by failing to get medical care for the boy and Brenda Wing’s statement says she recklessly caused the death, as an accomplice.
Jasper’s 21-year-old mother had given the couple temporary custody last summer while she was homeless and looked for work out of state.
Currently, Danny Wing’s sentencing is on the court calendar for Sept. 11 and his wife’s is scheduled for Sept. 25.
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For background, read, “Prosecutor not ruling out other arrests in Vader toddler’s death” from Thursday July 2, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
i was in jail with brenda,she claims danny just went crazy and punching the boy.she said when she went to call 911 he then grabbed their infant and said he would beat him to… personally they both took the first deal thrown at them,tells me GUILTY!!!! an innocent person wouldnt have took a deal,but would have went ahead with the polygraph test and told the truth…
@Barb Thompson- first,my prayers for you and your family. And second, I wanna ask.though the main” alleged. Perpetrators weren’t charged, can they be charged later?
A question for you.
What reason(s) are you given for this not going to trial if in your view there is enough evidence to convict?
My sincere condolences for your loss.
Referencing my daughter Ronda Reynolds’ case I believe there is more than enough evidence to prove homicide in a trial — and you never know when charges might be filed. Ronda’s Death Certificate reads “homicide” and that can never be changed so although it might be classified as a cold case, like I say — You never know..
And no, the public wouldn’t be aware if they were investigating.
Would we know if it was still being investigated? I doubt that would be shared information.
Free Air- I don’t have any additional evidence, other that what was presented in the coroner’s inquest and judicial review. That has shown to be irrefutable evidence of murder, specifically because no one was able to refute what was said by me and others, at least in the minds of the two juries.
The point is, that a murder has taken place here in Lewis County, but as far as I know, there is no active investigation.
I only mention it because you seem to know what really happened where as everyone else cannot find irrefutable proof of a murder.
What can be proven in a court of law is a lot different than what we suspect happen.
I’m not suggesting he’s innocent, just that there’s not enough evidence to find him guilty.
Free Air: The way it is supposed to work, is that law enforcement solves the crimes, not the private citizens.
I agree, Bill. Nobody ever gets away with murder in Seattle or Tacoma.
Like I always say, “If you want to kill someone and get away with it, Lewis County Washington is the place to do it”.
Also we had a kid almost stabbed to death two years ago in Packwood and the then chief detective gave the stabber a pass because he was an Iraqi war vet with PTSD and both him and the detective were Semper Fidelus. Fortunately he has been relieved of his duty with the new Sheriff. Why I do not know – but perhaps for crap like this.
We know that we will not get justice from the LCSO but we are getting over it.
(formerly BIll S.)
Bring usable evidence and they will. From everything I’ve read here and elsewhere there is just enough evidence to rule out suicide over homicide.
Such a sad case and it still linger son. Yeah the mom should be charged too. As should everyone who was in that house and saw what was happening to Jasper and did nothing.
It is too bad that the LC authorizes do not pursue the Ronda Reynolds murder as zealously as this death.