A heartbreaking account: Ten-year-old Dakota Levi Stevens tragically passed away just one month after entering foster care. His foster mother, 48-year-old Jennifer Lee Wilson, is currently facing charges of reckless homicide in Michigan.
Following an incident where Dakota ran away and was subsequently returned home, he exhibited behavioral issues. In response, Wilson restrained him by sitting on him for five minutes, applying her 340-pound weight onto his 90-pound frame while conversing with his caseworker. Despite Dakota’s cries for help, she persisted, mistakenly believing he was merely acting. When she finally turned him over, his eyelids appeared pale.
When paramedics arrived, Dakota was unresponsive and he succumbed to mechanical asphyxia two days later. Prior to this tragic event, Dakota had expressed a desire for a neighbor to adopt him, revealing that he had been physically abused by his parents.
Wilson entered a guilty plea for reckless homicide and received a six-year prison sentence. Dakota, who was fondly remembered for his passion for the outdoors, deserved far better. It is imperative that children in foster care receive enhanced protection, and Dakota’s story must be shared. May he rest in peace.