A 49-year-old Indiana woman, Jennifer Lee Wilson, is potentially facing a six-year prison term after admitting her role in the death of her 10-year-old foster son. Court documents reveal that Wilson pleaded guilty to a single charge of reckless homicide in the case involving Dakota Stevens. In Indiana, a conviction for reckless homicide can lead to a maximum sentence of six years in a state correctional facility and a fine of up to $10,000.
The tragic incident unfolded on April 25, 2024, when the Porter County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call about an unresponsive child at a home in Valparaiso, Indiana, about 150 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Upon their arrival, deputies found Dakota near the driveway of the residence, with a bystander attempting CPR. The child was unconscious, not breathing, and without a pulse. Visible bruising was noted on his lower neck and chest by the first responders.
Dakota was rushed to a hospital by emergency medical personnel, but he succumbed to his injuries two days later. The autopsy report indicated that the cause of death was severe brain swelling and prolonged oxygen deprivation. The report also noted organ damage and hemorrhaging in his liver and lungs, leading to the conclusion that Dakota’s death was a homicide.
At the scene, deputies spoke with Wilson, who seemed visibly distressed. According to a probable cause affidavit, Wilson explained that Dakota had been misbehaving throughout the day. He had refused to do his chores and had left the house, leading Wilson to find him talking with another woman a few blocks away. The woman informed Wilson that Dakota had asked her to call the police.
The affidavit further reveals that Wilson told the woman to “mind her own business” and managed to get Dakota back in the car and return home. However, upon reaching home, Dakota allegedly got out of the car and declared that he was leaving. Wilson claimed that she tried to prevent him from leaving, but was unsure if she had tackled him or if they had both fallen to the ground. Her intention, she said, was to restrain him.
Police reported that footage from a doorbell camera showed Wilson lying on Dakota’s midsection near his head and neck. Initially, the boy was seen struggling to free himself, but subsequent footage showed Wilson sitting on a motionless Dakota for approximately seven minutes. Upon realizing that Dakota had lost consciousness, Wilson was heard screaming his name and admitting that she had been lying on him because he was misbehaving.
Authorities noted that Dakota, who was 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 90 pounds, was significantly smaller than Wilson, who is 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 340 pounds. Wilson’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 17, 2025.