A 10-year-old Indiana boy’s life was cut tragically short when his 340-pound foster mother sat on him as punishment for “acting bad.” The chilling case has ignited outrage nationwide as details emerge about missed warning signs in the state’s foster care system.
We have to be more serious about protecting children in care – and stopping people who shouldn’t have kids from gaining access to them.
At a glance:
• Dakota Levi Stevens, 10, died from mechanical asphyxia after his foster mother sat on him in their Valparaiso, Indiana home
• Jennifer Lee Wilson, who weighed 340 pounds, was sentenced to six years in prison with one year suspended for probation after being convicted of reckless homicide
• An autopsy revealed Dakota suffered organ damage, liver and lung hemorrhaging from the incident
• Family members had attempted multiple times to gain custody of Dakota but were deemed unqualified by Indiana’s Department of Child Services
• The case has sparked a social media campaign #JusticeforDakota and renewed scrutiny of the state’s foster care system
Foster Mother’s Fatal Discipline
A young boy was tragically killed on April 25 in Valparaiso, Indiana, when his foster mother – who was morbidly obese – sat on him as a form of punishment. Police were called when the boy, Dakota, was found to be unresponsive with no pulse. An autopsy later determined the cause of death as mechanical asphyxia, with the medical examiner ruling the manner of death as homicide.
Jennifer Lee Wilson, Dakota’s foster mother, allegedly sat on the boy for several minutes as punishment for misbehavior. Dakota suffered catastrophic injuries including organ and soft tissue damage, liver and lung hemorrhaging that ultimately proved fatal.
System Failures and Warning Signs
Court documents reveal Wilson claimed she did not know her actions would lead to Dakota’s death, telling investigators she was trying to stop him from leaving. After noticing Dakota had stopped moving, Wilson reportedly asked, “Are you faking?” before realizing the severity of the situation.
Former foster family members, Sabrina and Hayden Hetzel, expressed heartbreak over Dakota’s death, describing him as intelligent, funny, and adventurous. 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.
Family members had tried unsuccessfully for years to gain custody of Dakota to remove him from the foster care system. The DCS repeatedly deemed them unqualified despite their efforts to provide Dakota with a stable home.
Meanwhile, DCS released a statement saying: “Our entire staff is heartbroken by this news. DCS works 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 the appropriate action.”
She may not have intended to do it…but who in their right mind thinks this is a good idea? And doesn’t realize how much damage their extreme weight could do?
Growing Concerns About State’s Child Welfare System
Dakota’s death raises serious concerns about the Indiana Department of Child Services’ ability to protect children in its care. The tragedy is especially disturbing as it occurred during Child Abuse Prevention Month and follows the recent death of 5-year-old Kinsleigh Welty, who died from neglect while under DCS monitoring.
Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn has called for a full investigation into the deaths of both Dakota and Kinsleigh, urging DCS to review its protocols. A class action lawsuit currently accuses the agency of failing to keep foster children safe, while an investigation found significant problems in DCS’s response to abuse allegations.
The agency’s latest annual child fatality report noted 61 child deaths from abuse and neglect in 2022, with 62% of those cases having prior allegations of abuse or neglect reported. These statistics highlight the systemic issues within Indiana’s child welfare system that continue to put vulnerable children at risk.
Dakota will be remembered as a bright child who loved music and dancing, and who was especially close to his younger sister. A social media campaign, #JusticeforDakota, has emerged following his death as community members demand accountability and reform.
