The story of Dakota Levi Stevens is deeply heartbreaking. Only ten years old, Dakota had been placed in the care of his foster mother, Jennifer Lee Wilson, for just one month when his life was tragically cut short. Wilson, 48, now faces reckless homicide charges in Berrien County, Michigan.
On the day of the incident, Dakota had run away but was found at a neighbor’s house. When they returned, he threw a fit, lying on the ground and acting out. In response, Wilson sat on top of him, pressing her full weight — around 340 pounds — on the much smaller boy who weighed only 90 pounds. She did this for about five minutes while talking on the phone with Dakota’s caseworker.
Despite his screams, Wilson believed he was pretending. Only when she finally moved him did she see his eyelids had turned pale. A child in the house called 911, but emergency workers arrived too late. Dakota was airlifted to the hospital and placed on life support but passed away two days later, on April 25, 2024.
An autopsy revealed catastrophic injuries, including severe trauma to his internal organs. The cause of death was determined to be mechanical asphyxia — in other words, he was crushed to death. This tragic case has caused outrage and sorrow nationwide.
Just 30 minutes before help arrived, Dakota had run to a neighbor begging for adoption, saying his parents had hit him. Wilson told police she didn’t know if she tackled him or fell with him but insisted she only meant to hold him down.
Wilson pled guilty in October and was sentenced to six years in prison, with one year suspended to probation. Following the tragedy, other foster children were removed from her home. Dakota is remembered as a boy who loved nature and followed his own unique path.
His story is a painful reminder that foster children deserve safe, loving homes. Though Wilson will face justice, nothing can undo this loss.
