Indiana boy, 10, killed after 340-pound foster mom sits on him for ‘acting bad’

A tragic incident unfolded in Valparaiso, Indiana, where a 10-year-old boy named Dakota Levi Stevens lost his life after his foster mother, Jennifer Lee Wilson, allegedly sat on him for several minutes. The 48-year-old woman, who weighed 340 pounds, claimed that she did so because the boy was “acting bad.”

The devastating event occurred on April 25, when police responded to a call reporting that Dakota was not breathing and had no pulse. Upon arrival, officers noticed bruising on the child’s lower neck and chest. Despite their efforts to revive him, Dakota was pronounced dead after being rushed to a nearby hospital.

Jennifer Lee Wilson was subsequently charged with reckless homicide in connection with Dakota’s death. She was sentenced to six years in prison, with one year suspended to be served on probation. The court proceedings revealed harrowing details of the incident, as Wilson recounted that Dakota had run away from home and she had found him at a neighbor’s house. When she brought him back home and he continued to misbehave, Wilson claimed she sat on his midsection for approximately five minutes.

Tragically, Dakota stopped moving during this time, but Wilson believed he was pretending. It was only when she noticed his pale eyelids that she realized the severity of the situation and began performing CPR while calling 911. Despite her efforts, Dakota succumbed to his injuries at South Bend Memorial Hospital on April 27.

An autopsy later revealed that Dakota’s cause of death was mechanical asphyxia, and the manner of death was ruled as a homicide. The young boy had suffered organ and soft tissue damage, as well as liver and lung hemorrhaging, among other injuries.

Neighbors reported that Dakota had sought refuge at a neighbor’s house prior to the incident, claiming that his parents had physically abused him. The neighbor observed no visible injuries on the boy but recounted the distressing moment when Wilson came to retrieve him.

Dakota, who was a small 4’10” child weighing only 91 pounds, stood no chance against Wilson, who stood at 4’11” and weighed significantly more. The tragic outcome of this case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper care and supervision for vulnerable children in foster care.