340-pound foster mother jailed for sitting on top of 10-year-old adopted son, causing his death

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An Indiana foster mother who made headlines last year after she sat on her adopted son and crushed him to death has been sentenced to prison. Jennifer Lee Wilson, 48, who weighed 340 pounds, straddled 10-year-old Dakota Levi Stevens, causing his death because of “being nice.” Wilson pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and was sentenced to six years in prison. On April 25, 2024, police were called to Wilson's home in Valparaiso and found Stevens unresponsive. According to an affidavit, Wilson admitted that he sat on Stevens' stomach for five minutes after he threatened to run away. Doorbell camera footage shows Wilson lying on the boy's neck and chest as he screams. At one point, Wilson asked, “Are you pretending?” After realizing Stevens was unresponsive, she began CPR and called 911. Stevens was airlifted to Children's Hospital but died two days later. An autopsy concluded Stevens died of mechanical asphyxia, organ damage and hemorrhage. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. Dakota has spent five years in multiple foster homes. Former adoptive parent Hayden Hertzel, who had the child from October 2019 to 2021, wrote a heartfelt tribute: “I wish you could dance and sing up there…This system absolutely sucks You're disappointed, my son.” Wilson tried to defend her actions as an attempt to “calm him down,” and now she's facing the consequences of her actions. Because the crime is classified as a Level 5 felony, she will be required to serve 75 percent of her five-year sentence. Additionally, DCS revoked her foster home license on June 30, 2024. Like this: Like Loading… Discover more with Baller AlertSubscribe and get the latest posts delivered to your email.

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