A heartbreaking event occurred in Michigan when a 10-year-old foster child died after his 340-pound foster mother sat on him as a disciplinary measure. The child, identified as Dakota Stevens, was allegedly misbehaving, prompting his foster mother, Jennifer Wilson, to resort to this extreme form of punishment. Wilson told authorities that Dakota had fled from their home earlier that day and was acting out after she retrieved him from a neighbor’s residence.
Court records reveal that Wilson claimed Dakota had thrown himself onto the front lawn of their house. In reaction, she sat on him while she contacted his caseworker. The young boy screamed and eventually ceased moving under her weight. Initially, Wilson thought Dakota was feigning injury until she noticed his pale eyelids when she rolled him over. The court documents noted that Wilson seemed “visibly upset” when police arrived to find Dakota motionless and pulseless.
Emergency services quickly airlifted Dakota to a nearby hospital, but despite their best efforts, the medical team was unable to revive him. He was taken off life support two days later, just a month after being placed in Wilson’s care.
Investigators have reportedly discovered unsettling footage from a Ring camera that depicts Wilson sitting on Dakota’s head and neck for approximately 20 seconds. The video records the boy’s desperate pleas gradually diminishing.
Upon grasping the severity of the situation, Wilson directed one of her other foster children to dial 911. In the video, she can be heard repeatedly calling Dakota’s name as she realized he had ceased breathing.
Wilson, who was also fostering three other children in her Berrien County home, could face up to six years in prison if found guilty. A representative for the Department of Child Services confirmed that Wilson’s foster parent license has been suspended and is currently under review for permanent revocation.