Foster Mother Sentenced After Suffocating 10-Year-Old Boy by Sitting on Him

Indiana, USA – A 48-year-old foster mother has been sentenced to six years in prison, with one year suspended to probation, for the death of her 10-year-old foster son, Dakota Levi Stevens. The tragic incident occurred in April 2024 in LaPorte County, Indiana, when Jennifer Lee Wilson, who weighed approximately 340 pounds (154 kg), used her body weight to restrain the young boy as a form of punishment.

According to investigators, Wilson forced Dakota to lie face-down on the living room floor before sitting on his midsection for about five minutes. The child, who was 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 91 pounds, suffered fatal internal injuries as a result. The official autopsy report cited “mechanical asphyxia” as the cause of death, with significant trauma to the liver, lungs, and other organs.

Tragically, just before his death, Dakota had run to a neighbor’s house, begging for help and asking to be adopted. He told the neighbor that his foster parents were physically abusing him and not allowing him to contact his caseworker. The neighbor later reported this encounter to authorities.

Wilson was arrested and charged with reckless homicide. In October 2024, she pleaded guilty and began serving her sentence in January 2025. Her conviction has drawn national attention and renewed scrutiny over the foster care system and the monitoring of children placed in foster homes.

Dakota Levi Stevens’ death has left the local community and child welfare advocates heartbroken and outraged, with many calling for stronger protections and oversight to prevent future tragedies.