Assault charge brought after woman suffered tear in her heart muscle

Two Hastings residents have been charged after an attack on a Hastings woman. The attack left the woman with a tear in her heart muscle that required open heart surgery. The assault occurred June 25. The two were charged this week.

Todd David Casey, 47, Hastings has been charged with one felony count of assault in the first degree (great bodily harm). Tara Lynn Warriner, 24, Hastings, has been charged with one felony count of aiding an offender.

According to the identical criminal complaints, the father of the female victim became concerned when she did not come to his home for a planned brunch June 25. He went to her residence, where Warriner met him at the door. She appeared to be very unconcerned about the female victim. However, when the father went into his daughter’s bedroom, he found her to be unresponsive.

He called an ambulance, which took her to Regina Medical Center in Hastings. She was later taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where she had to have open heart surgery because of a tear in her heart muscle. Her condition was critical, according to the complaint.

When officers went back to the female victim’s residence, they were again met by Warriner, who refused to let them in. She said that the victim was fine and had been released from Regina Medical Center. She claimed she had called the ambulance and everything was now fine.

The following day, officers met with the victim’s son, who said that Casey was his mother’s boyfriend. The son said Casey had struck him and his mother.

In an interview two weeks later, the female victim said she had been dating Casey for several months. She said she was supporting Casey, but she lost her job. The two talked about starting a business, but that did not materialize.

On June 25 the female victim and Casey were arguing and she said he punched her in the chest, knocking her off the bed. As she lay on the floor, Casey stomped on her, she said. He then left.

Casey and Warriner were both taken into custody.

In an interview with police, Casey gave three different versions of what had occurred June 25. First he denied anything had occurred, then gave another two versions, saying the female victim was responsible for him pushing him away.

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