An Indiana woman, aged 49, is facing a potential six-year prison sentence after confessing to her involvement in the death of her 10-year-old foster son. Jennifer Lee Wilson pleaded guilty to a single count of reckless homicide in the case of Dakota Stevens, according to court documents. In Indiana, a conviction of reckless homicide can result in a maximum of six years in a state correctional facility and a fine of up to $10,000.
The incident occurred on April 25, 2024, when the Porter County Sheriff’s Office received a distress call about an unresponsive child at a residence in Valparaiso, Indiana, approximately 150 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Dakota lying near the driveway of the home, with a bystander performing CPR. The boy was unconscious, not breathing, and without a pulse. First responders also observed visible bruising on his lower neck and chest.
Emergency medical personnel transported Dakota to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries two days later. The autopsy report revealed that the cause of death was severe brain swelling and prolonged oxygen deprivation. The boy also had organ damage and hemorrhaging in his liver and lungs, leading to the conclusion that his death was a homicide.
At the scene, deputies interacted with Wilson, who appeared visibly upset. 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 conversing with another woman a few blocks away. The woman informed Wilson that Dakota had asked her to call the police.
The affidavit further states 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.