A severely obese woman has tragically killed a 10-year-old Indiana boy died after sitting on him as a form of discipline.
We need to do a better job of vetting people who foster children…
At a glance:
• Dakota Levi Stevens, 10, died after his 340-pound foster mother Jennifer Lee Wilson sat on him for allegedly “acting bad”
• Wilson was sentenced to six years in prison with one year suspended for probation after being charged with reckless homicide
• The boy’s cause of death was ruled as mechanical asphyxia with the manner of death listed as homicide
• Dakota had been in foster care for several years, with family members unsuccessfully trying to gain custody multiple times
• The case has sparked outrage and a #JusticeForDakota social media campaign, highlighting ongoing issues with Indiana’s Department of Child Services
Boy Dies After Foster Mother Sits On Him
Dakota Levi Stevens was pronounced dead after his foster mother Jennifer Lee Wilson, who weighs 340 pounds, allegedly sat on him for several minutes on April 25 in Valparaiso, Indiana. Police were called to the scene when the boy was found not breathing and without a pulse.
An autopsy determined Dakota died from mechanical asphyxia, with the manner of death ruled a homicide. The 10-year-old suffered severe organ and soft tissue damage, liver and lung hemorrhaging, among other injuries, highlighting the excessive force used against the child.
According to court documents, Wilson claimed Dakota was “acting bad” before the incident. She allegedly stated that “when she attempted to stop him from leaving, she does not know if she tackled Dakota or they fell to the ground; however, her intention was to hold him.”
She didn’t intend to do it…but what was she thinking? This is just a tragic story in every way.
Failed System Leaves Family Heartbroken
Dakota had been living in foster care for several years and was recently placed in Wilson’s home in Liberty Township. His former foster family members, Sabrina and Hayden Hetzel, have expressed their heartbreak and demand for justice, describing Dakota as intelligent, funny, and adventurous.
Records show that Hayden Hetzel had previously attempted to adopt Dakota, but the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) moved him to a facility for children with behavioral issues instead. This decision came despite multiple family members attempting to gain custody over the years, only to be deemed unqualified by DCS.
“Our entire staff is heartbroken by this news,” stated DCS in response to Dakota’s death, adding that they “work with stakeholders and partners across the state to investigate the death of a child any time there is suspected abuse or neglect and will take appropriate action.”
Dakota’s death has raised serious concerns about the Indiana Department of Child Services’ ability to protect children in its care. The tragedy occurred during Child Abuse Prevention Month and follows the recent death of 5-year-old Kinsleigh Welty, who also died from neglect while under DCS supervision.
A class action lawsuit currently accuses DCS of failing to keep foster children safe, while an IndyStar investigation found significant problems in the agency’s response to abuse allegations.
We have to do better, for the sake of these poor children.
