Judge approves motion granting Jalen Vaden attorney option to ask state to pay for litigation fees, expert witnesses

Jasper County Division IIi Judge David Mouton sustained a motion filed today in Jasper County Circuit Court calling for the appointment of Tracey Martin as private counsel for Jalen Vaden, 22, the accused killer of three-year-old Jayda Kyle of Carl Junction.

The action provides Martin the ability to ask the state's public defender system for funds to cover expert witnesses and litigation fees.

Martin's motion specifies she will not be paid by either the taxpayers or Vaden for her services.

In the motion, Martin noted that Vaden was found eligible for public defender services.

"Private counsel entered the case at the request of defendant, despite the defendant's inability to afford private counsel."

Martin said Vaden wants to keep her as his attorney, but though she is willing to take the case pro bono (without pay), she cannot afford to pay for litigation expenses and expert witness fees.


The judge's decision enables Martin to ask the Missouri State Public Defender's Office to cover those expenses through the Private Attorney Request for Litigation Expenses.

A bond reduction hearing for Vaden, who is charged with second degree murder and felony child abuse is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, August 20.

Vaden is being held on $750,000 bond, with a requirement that at least $250,000 must be in cash.

Other motions that may be taken up include Martin's motion to preserve evidence connected to Jayda' Kyle's mother Devyn Kyle. Jalen Vaden was Devyn Kyle's live-in boyfriend.

"(a)ny and all phone records, text messages, Facebook Messenger messages, archived Facebook Messages, Instagram messages, or any other social media messenger services from August 1, 2017 – December 6, 2017 to and from the cell phone (Devyn Kyle's phone number) that was preserved as evidence."

Martin's motion for Devyn Kyle's telephone and social media history prior to the abuse that killed her daughter and put Valen behind bars also includes the following request for medical records dating back to before the night of the abuse that caused her death:

Any and all diagnostic imaging, including but not limited to, MRI scans, CT scans, x-rays, and any other images contained within the medical records of Jayda Kyle. 2. Any and all histology slides and/or cytology slides or smear tests preserved in the medical records of Jayda Kyle to be made available for review by medical experts.

Jayda Kyle died December 1 at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, three days after she was hospitalized after abuse that took place at her home at 405 Meadow Lake in Carl Junction.


More information can be found in earlier Turner Report posts at the links below.

Previous posts

Bond reduction hearing set for Jalen Vaden set for August 20


New motions in Jayda Kyle murder case ask for mother's phone, Facebook records, bond reduction for accused killer

Hearing held in Jalen Vaden case, pre-trial motions continued to August 20

Judge overrules motion; Jalen Vaden's statements can be used at trial

Jasper County detective acknowledges Devyn Kyle's mention of McPherson treated differently than Jalen Vaden's

Motion: Jalen Vaden's statement should be tossed because he asked for Judd McPherson

Bond set at $1 million for Jalen Vaden, trial may be as soon as June or July

Despite social media claim, Judd McPherson was not at daughter's home the night Jayda Kyle was abused

Recordings of interviews with Jaden Valen, Devyn Kyle among items turned over to defense during discovery process

Gag order expected in Jalen Vaden case

Reporter/Carl Junction City Councilwoman threatens Jayda's Beat founder, says Vaden guilty, McPherson not involved
Press conference claim: Jalen Vaden confession to Jayda Kyle murder was coerced

Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney outlines evidence against Jalen Vaden
Jalen Vaden to Jayda Kyle's father: I pray that you know I didn't do this to her

Family of accused Jayda Kyle murderer suspects outside manipulation as SMB, GoFundMe shut down accounts

Explosive court documents claim Jayda Kyle's mother turned her death into a social media event

Jayda Kyle's mother to answer questions under oath; defense to add Judd McPherson as a witness

Dankelson refuses to recuse from Jayda Kyle murder case, says he does not have a close relationship with Judd McPherson

Jalen Vaden's lawyer asks for change of judge, cites Dankelson's close relationship with Judd McPherson

Jalen Vaden bond decision delayed, preliminary hearing waived
Accused killer of Jayda Kyle to waive preliminary hearing
Bond motion filed for accused killer of three-year-old Jayda Kyle

Jasper County Sheriff: We are still investigating Jayda Kyle's death

Children's Division documents: Grandfather attempting to manipulate Jayda Kyle murder investigation

Juvenile Office documents: Jayda Kyle suffered bleeding from brain, severely torn retina, probably already brain dead when she arrived in K. C.

Some thoughts on the Joplin Globe's article on the Jayda Kyle murder investigation

Probable cause: Carl Junction man abused three-year-old, left her on the floor bloody, unconscious

Jayda Kyle obituary