Former Sparks Mother Testifies About Adopted Son’s Death

The former Sparks resident accused in the child abuse murder of her three-year-old son more than 30 years ago told the jury she never abused her son.

Prosecutors say Catherine Wyman killed James Bader through abuse back in 1974. But Wyman denies it.

She testified Wednesday that the only punishment the adopted child got was spankings and groundings. Wyman says the day he died he fell off a lawn chair at his sister's softball game.

When the case was reopened last year, a forensic pathologist said Bader was covered in bruises head-to-toe and his intestines had split causing a fatal infection.