VALPARAISO, IN (LOOTPRESS) – A 10-year-old Indiana boy died after his foster mother allegedly sat on him for several minutes as punishment, leading to his asphyxiation. The woman, Jennifer Lee Wilson, 48, was sentenced in January to six years in prison, with one year suspended to probation, after pleading guilty to reckless homicide in the death of Dakota Levi Stevens.
The incident occurred on April 25 when police were called to a home in Valparaiso after Dakota was found unresponsive and without a pulse. Officers attempted resuscitation before the child was transported to a hospital, where he later died on April 27.
According to court documents, Wilson told police that Dakota had run away but was brought back home. She claimed he was “acting bad,” threw himself on the ground, and said he was leaving again. In an attempt to restrain him, she admitted to sitting on his midsection for about five minutes. When he stopped moving, she initially believed he was faking before realizing he was unresponsive. She then performed CPR and called 911.
An autopsy determined Dakota died from mechanical asphyxia, with injuries including organ and soft tissue damage, liver and lung hemorrhaging. His death was ruled a homicide.
A neighbor told police that before the incident, Dakota had come to her house asking to be adopted, claiming his parents hit him. She said she saw no visible injuries before Wilson arrived to take him home.
At the time of his death, Dakota was 4’10” and weighed 91 pounds. Wilson, who was 4’11” and weighed 340 pounds, was charged and later convicted in connection with his death.
