Ind. woman who weighed 250 pounds more than foster son sentenced for sitting on boy, killing him

VALPARAISO, Ind. (TCN) — A judge sentenced a 48-year-old woman to several years in prison after she pleaded guilty to killing her foster son by sitting on him, causing him to suffocate.

WGN-TV reports Jennifer Wilson was ordered to spend six years behind bars with one year suspended about three months following her plea to reckless homicide in connection with the death of 10-year-old Dakota Levi Stevens.

The incident began April 25, 2024, when Porter County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home in Valparaiso regarding a child having a medical emergency. Not long before deputies arrived, Stevens reportedly went to his neighbor’s house and asked if they could adopt him. Wilson found Stevens and tried to take him home, but he started “acting up” and fell on the ground, according to WBBM-TV.

Wilson sat on him for several minutes and contacted his caseworker. She reportedly asked Stevens, “Are you faking?” but when she saw that he was pale and unresponsive, she called 911.

NBC Chicago reports doorbell video footage shows Stevens face-down on the ground with Wilson on top of his neck and head. The boy was reportedly screaming throughout the 20-second video. A nearly seven-minute video reportedly depicted Wilson atop the 10-year-old as his arms are above his head. He is not seen moving at all during that.

Stevens died two days later due to homicide by mechanical asphyxia.

Wilson’s license reportedly listed her weight at 340 pounds, while Stevens weighed 90 pounds.

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