Dorothy Wing, the mother of murdered toddler Evangelina Wing, was sentenced Tuesday to more than 15 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment.
Wing had faced a life sentence for murder by abuse and six counts of criminal mistreatment. She pleaded guilty in January to the lesser charges after agreeing to truthfully testify against her former boyfriend Randy Roden, who was convicted Monday in the murder of her daughter in Seaside nearly two years ago.
The couple called 911 Dec. 20, 2014, after discovering Evangelina unresponsive. An autopsy later found the girl had died from blunt-force trauma. Wing’s two sons were also found badly injured and hospitalized. The two were later taken into protective custody and now live with family in California.
Prosecutors believe all three children were tortured, burned, bitten and caged in the months before Evangelina’s death. Copious blood spatter was discovered around the apartment. The discoveries have been described as one of the worst cases of child abuse in Clatsop County’s history.
Roden was found guilty Monday of murder by abuse, manslaughter, criminal mistreatment and assault. He avoided more serious charges, including four counts of aggravated murder, for which he faced the death penalty.
Roden faces up to 35 years in prison. He will be sentenced later this month.
Wing, who has previously admitted culpability in what happened to her children, said she had hoped that the stories Roden told her about her children’s injuries under his care were true.
“I know I messed up,” she said, at times approaching tears. “I know I didn’t protect my kids the way I should have.
“That’s all I care about, is that they’re safe now.”
Circuit Court Judge Paula Brownhill admonished Wing for allowing the abuse of her children, before agreeing to sentence her to 190 months in prison.
“You saw all of it, and you just turned your head?” Brownhill asked Wing.
“I thought it would get better, but it never did,” Wing said.
Prosecutor Dawn Buzzard and Wing’s attorney, John Gutbezahl, both said the case is a cautionary tale for parents to be careful who they allow around their children.