Foster mom sentenced after crushing 10-year-old boy to death by sitting on him

A 10-year-old boy died after his 340-pound foster mother sat on him for several minutes, crushing him to death. The woman, Jennifer Lee Wilson, has been sentenced to six years in prison for reckless homicide.

The tragic death of Dakota Levi Stevens has left people across the country stunned and heartbroken. Just one month after being placed in a foster home, Dakota’s life ended in a way no one could have imagined — not from illness or accident, but from the actions of the very person meant to protect him.

Jennifer Lee Wilson, a 48-year-old foster parent from Berrien County, Michigan, was caring for Dakota when he reportedly misbehaved after running off to a neighbor’s house. Instead of comforting or correcting him in a safe way, Wilson made a decision that would prove deadly: she sat on him.

Wilson, who weighs 340 pounds, pressed her full weight onto the 90-pound child for nearly five minutes — all while on the phone with his caseworker. Despite Dakota screaming and pleading, she told police she thought he was “pretending.” Only after she noticed his eyelids had turned pale did she realize something was seriously wrong.

Emergency response came too late

One of the other children in the house called 911, but by the time help arrived, Dakota was unresponsive. He was airlifted to the hospital and placed on life support. Two days later, on April 25, 2024, he passed away.

An autopsy revealed severe internal injuries, including damage to his organs and bleeding in his liver and lungs. The cause of death was ruled as mechanical asphyxia, meaning he was essentially crushed to death.

A cry for help ignored

Perhaps even more devastating is what happened just before the incident. According to court documents, Dakota had run to a neighbor’s house and begged her to adopt him. He said his foster parents had hit him, raising even more questions about the safety and oversight in the foster care system.

Wilson told police she wasn’t sure if she tackled Dakota or if they fell when she tried to stop him from running away again. She claimed she only meant to hold him down.

In October 2024, Wilson pleaded guilty to reckless homicide. She was sentenced in January 2025 to six years in prison, with one year suspended and to be served on probation.

Foster care system under fire

Dakota’s case has sparked widespread outrage, not only because of the horror of what happened but because of how easily it might have been prevented. He had been in Wilson’s care for only a month, placed there by the Department of Child Services. After his death, all other children in Wilson’s home were removed.

In his obituary, Dakota was remembered as a boy who “loved the outdoors” and “marched to the beat of his own drum.” He was just beginning a new chapter in life when it was taken from him.

A call for accountability and change

This story isn’t just about one tragic incident. It’s about a system that is supposed to protect the most vulnerable — but too often fails to do so. Dakota deserved more than what he got: more love, more care, and a safe home.

While Jennifer Wilson has been sentenced, many are asking deeper questions. How did someone like her get approved as a foster parent? Why weren’t signs of abuse taken seriously? And how many other children are at risk?

We may never get all the answers, but we can make sure Dakota’s story is not forgotten. His life, though short, should be a powerful reminder that children in foster care need more than just placement — they need protection, support, and love.