A tragic story from Valparaiso, Indiana, has left a community heartbroken after a 49-year-old woman, Jennifer Lee Wilson, was sentenced for causing the death of her 10-year-old foster son, Dakota Stevens. The young boy died after Wilson reportedly sat on him for several minutes during an incident at their home.
On Friday, Senior Judge Michael Bergerson sentenced Wilson to the maximum of six years in prison, though one year of the sentence will be suspended. This means Wilson will serve the final year of her sentence on probation. In October, she pleaded guilty to reckless homicide for her role in Dakota’s death.
The heartbreaking events unfolded on April 25, 2024. Deputies from the Porter County Sheriff’s Office received a call just after 3:30 p.m. about an unresponsive child at a home on Falcon Way in Valparaiso, about 150 miles northwest of Indianapolis. When first responders arrived, they found Dakota lying on the ground near the driveway. Someone was performing CPR, but he was unresponsive—he wasn’t breathing and had no pulse. They also noticed bruising on his neck and chest.
Emergency responders rushed Dakota to the hospital, but he tragically passed away two days later. An autopsy revealed that he had suffered severe brain swelling caused by a lack of oxygen, along with organ damage and internal bleeding in his liver and lungs. The cause of death was ruled a homicide.
Wilson, who appeared distraught when officers arrived, told them Dakota had been “acting out” that day. At one point, he refused to do chores and left the house. She found him a few blocks away, talking to a woman who later told authorities that Dakota had asked her to call the police. Wilson reportedly told the woman to mind her own business, got Dakota into the car, and drove him back home.
Things escalated when Dakota, still upset, refused to get out of the car. Once he did, he shouted that he was leaving. Wilson claimed she tried to stop him by holding him down. She told investigators she couldn’t remember if she tackled him or if they simply fell, but she ended up on top of him.
Footage from a doorbell camera at the house captured the horrifying moments. The video reportedly showed Wilson lying on Dakota’s midsection and neck area while the boy initially struggled to free himself. Eventually, he stopped moving. For about seven minutes, Wilson remained on top of him, believing he was faking. At one point, she called his caseworker. She later told investigators that she thought he was just pretending to be unresponsive.
Dakota, who was only 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 90 pounds, was no match for Wilson, who weighed 340 pounds. When she finally realized he wasn’t breathing, she reportedly screamed his name, but it was too late.
The court’s decision to give Wilson the maximum sentence reflects the gravity of the case. Dakota’s story has left many questioning how such a tragedy could occur and serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that come with caring for vulnerable children.
