Wilson then proceeded to sit on the tiny boy for several minutes, crushing his mid-section. Wilson stands 4-foot-11 and weighs 340 pounds.
Dakota stood 4-foot-10 and weighed just 90 pounds.
Jennifer Lee Wilson, right, was mad at her foster son so she sat on him. The boy died two days later of his injuries. FACEBOOK
Senior Indiana Judge Michael Bergerson ordered Wilson to spend a maximum of six years in prison for her role in Dakota’s death. She pleaded guilty in October to reckless homicide.
On April 25, 2024 at 3:37 p.m., Porter County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call regarding an unresponsive 10-year-old at a home in Valparaiso — about 240 km northwest of Indianapolis.
The child was discovered lying on the ground in the driveway. An unidentified person was performing CPR on him.
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Cops said Dakota was “not conscious, not breathing, and had no pulse.” Emergency personnel noted that the victim had visible bruising to his lower neck and chest. He died two days later in hospital.
An autopsy determined his manner of death was homicide with the cause of death listed as severe swelling in the brain and being “deprived of oxygen for an extended period of time.” In addition, Dakota suffered organ damage as well as hemorrhaging of the liver and lungs.
At the scene, cops said Wilson was “visibly distraught.”
Advertisement 4
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
She told homicide detectives that Dakota had been acting up all day and refused to do his chores. Wilson said he then left the house.
The wicked foster mom found the boy several blocks away talking to another woman and asking for her to call the cops.
Tragic Dakota Stevens. FACEBOOK
Wilson scolded the concerned neighbour to “mind her own business.” She forced the boy into the car and when they arrived home, Dakota screamed he was leaving.
“Wilson stated that when she attempted to stop him from leaving, she does not know if she tackled Dakota or they fell to the ground, however her intention was to hold him,” a court filing stated.
But CCTV footage revealed that Wilson was lying on Dakota’s midsection near the area of his head and neck. He initially struggled to get free but the seven-minute video shows Wilson sitting atop the motionless boy.
“Wilson stated that she laid on his midsection and called his caseworker,” a probable cause affidavit said. “Wilson stated that he eventually stopped moving and she thought he was faking. She advised that she laid on him for approximately five minutes.”
When she realized what had happened, she howled his name and could be heard screaming: “I was laying on him and he was acting bad.”
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.
This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.