An Indiana foster mother admits involvement in the tragic death of her 10-year-old foster kid after she sat on him because “he was acting bad.”
Jennifer Lee Wilson, 48, pled guilty Wednesday to one count of reckless murder in connection with Dakota Stevens’ death, according to court records, the NWI Times reported.
Wilson was arrested in July, two months after Dakota’s death.
In April, deputies from the Porter County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about an unresponsive youngster outside a Valparaiso, Indiana, home.
According to the arrest complaint, first responders found Dakota unresponsive with obvious injuries on his neck and chest.
A medical examiner ruled that he died two days later at the hospital as a result of brain swelling and organ damage.
During police questioning, Wilson stated Dakota was misbehaving and had left the house. She discovered him speaking with a woman in the area, whom he had asked to call the police.
Wilson eventually persuaded Dakota to drive home with her. When he got out of the car, she claimed he screamed and threatened to leave again.
“Wilson 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,” according to records acquired by WMAQ-TV.
Ring doorbell camera showed Wilson, who weighed 340 pounds, sitting on Dakota for seven minutes.
When she noticed he was unconscious, Wilson was caught on video saying, “I was laying on him and he was acting bad,” according to Law & Crime.
Wilson will be sentenced in January. She is facing up to six years in prison.