A woman from Indiana, Jennifer Lee Wilson, 49, has been sentenced to prison for killing her 10-year-old foster son, Dakota Stevens.
She was convicted after sitting on Dakota’s stomach for several minutes, leading to his death... Continue reading here ▶
The tragic event occurred after Dakota asked a neighbor to call 911, saying he was being abused.
Wilson confronted him and took him back home.
Surveillance footage from a doorbell camera later revealed Wilson sitting on Dakota’s stomach, near his chest and neck, for about seven minutes.
Initially, Dakota struggled to get free, but then he stopped moving. Despite this, Wilson continued to sit on him.
Wilson later admitted to police that she thought Dakota was “pretending” when he stopped moving.
She said she sat on him for about five minutes before realizing he was unresponsive. At that point, she began screaming his name.
When emergency responders arrived at the home in Valparaiso, Indiana, they found Dakota lying outside, unresponsive, with no pulse.
He had visible bruises on his neck and chest and was not breathing. He was rushed to the hospital but died two days later.
An autopsy revealed that Dakota died from brain swelling, lack of oxygen, and severe damage to his internal organs. At just 4 foot 10 inches tall and weighing only 90 pounds, Dakota was much smaller than Wilson, who weighed 340 pounds.
Wilson admitted in court that her actions caused Dakota’s death. A judge sentenced her to six years, the maximum penalty, with five years to be served in prison and one year on probation. During probation, she will be supervised after her release.
The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the vulnerability of foster children and the responsibility of foster parents to provide a safe environment.
Dakota’s death serves as a painful reminder of the need for stricter oversight in foster care situations.
Wilson began her prison sentence on Friday.
