Indiana Foster Mom Crushed Her 10-Year-Old Son To Death Because 'He Was Acting Bad'

By
Dakota Stevens
Jennifer Lee Wilson, 48, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of reckless homicide in connection with the death of Dakota Stevens. Geisen Funeral Home

An Indiana foster mom admitted guilt in the crushing death of her 10-year-old foster son after she sat on him because "he was acting bad."

Jennifer Lee Wilson, 48, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of reckless homicide in connection with the death of Dakota Stevens, court records show, NWI Times reported.

Wilson was arrested in July, two months after Dakota died.

In April, deputies with the Porter County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of an unresponsive boy outside a Valparaiso, Indiana residence.

First responders encountered Dakota, unconscious and with visible bruising to his neck and chest, the arrest report stated, according to the outlet.

He died two days later at the hospital from swelling of the brain and organ damage, a medical examiner determined, WBBM-TV reported.

During police questioning, Wilson claimed Dakota was misbehaving and left their home. She found him speaking to a woman in the neighborhood, who he had asked to call police.

Wilson eventually convinced Dakota to drive back home with her. When he got out of the car, she said he was screaming and threatening 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," court records obtained by WMAQ-TV read.

Ring doorbell footage captured Wilson, who weighed 340 lbs., sitting on Dakota for seven minutes.

When she realized he was unconscious, Wilson was heard on the footage yelling, "I was laying on him and he was acting bad," according to Law & Crime.

Wilson will be sentenced in January. She faces up to six years in prison.

Tags
Homicide, Indiana, Guilty, U.S. Crime

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