More Than 100 Subpoenas Issued Ahead of Trial in Vader Boy's Death

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With the trial for a woman accused in the case of a 3-year-old boy’s death less than a month away, the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office has issued subpoenas for dozens of witnesses in preparation.

The state’s witness list is 100 people long, including three minors identified by initials, for the trial against Brenda Wing, 27, who is charged with one count of homicide by abuse, or in the alternative, first-degree manslaughter for the death of Jasper Henderling-Warner.

In a case like this, Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead said a long witness list is typical and usually includes many law enforcement officials.                              

While subpoenas have already been issued, he said he doesn’t expect to call all of the witnesses at the trial.

The state expects to call Brenda Wing’s husband, 26-year-old Danny Wing, who was also charged with the same crime as his wife. The children who have been subpoenaed, who are not named, are likely the couple’s.

“Danny provides quite a lot of information,” Halstead told The Chronicle on Thursday, but noted that all the witnesses are important. 

As a result of a plea deal with the state, Danny Wing pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, domestic violence, and third-degree assault of a child, domestic violence. He has not yet been sentenced.

Brenda Wing’s trial is scheduled to begin on May 18 and is anticipated to last about three weeks, about half as long as anticipated before Danny Wing pleaded guilty.

The unmarried parents of the toddler, Nikki Warner and Casey Henderling, may also testify on behalf of the prosecution. 

According to court documents, Warner provided detectives with a note signed by her and the Wings making the couple Jasper’s guardian from July 31, 2014, to the same date this year. She told detectives she was homeless and couldn’t care for the boy.

Zackery Kidder, 18, who lived with the Wings, the couple’s three children and Jasper in Vader at the time of the boy’s death, is also named as a witness for the state.

When asked about Kidder’s significance as a witness, Halstead declined to go into detail, but said he’s on the list for a reason.

Multiple law enforcement officers, including some with Centralia Police, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and agencies outside of Lewis County, are on the state’s witness list.

The prosecution has identified eight expert witnesses on its list, including two doctors who are expected to testify on Jasper’s possible causes of death, the pain and suffering he would have endured as a result of being in the defendant’s care and medical treatments that could have prevented his death.

A CD containing an interview with Danny Wing conducted on April 13, and another CD with phone calls involving Danny Wing while he was in custody at the Cowlitz County Jail Sept. 19-25 of last year, were mailed to Brenda Wing’s defense attorney on Wednesday, according to court documents.

Halstead said the interview with Danny Wing didn’t bring to light any information the state hadn’t already anticipated.

A witness list from the defendant’s attorney, John Crowley, had not been filed as of Thursday afternoon. 

A Chronicle reporter left a message at the Crowley Law Firm requesting comment from the attorney about the upcoming trial. 

Brenda Wing will next appear in court on April 30 for an omnibus hearing.

While witnesses are being subpoenaed as the trial date approaches, Halstead said the prosecutor’s office regularly reaches out to Crowley to perhaps reach a plea deal before May 18.

Jasper died on Oct. 5, 2014.

According to authorities, Jasper had “severe and obvious” bruises and injuries to his entire body. Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod, who is expected to testify for the state, ruled the cause of death as chronic battered child syndrome and the manner of death as homicide.

Authorities arrested the Wings for the boy’s death on Nov. 7, 2014.