This is the heartbreaking story of Dakota Levi Stevens, a 10-year-old boy who tragically lost his life in a foster home. His foster mother, Jennifer Lee Wilson, 48, faces charges of reckless homicide after pressing her 340-pound weight onto Dakota, who weighed just 90 pounds, for five minutes as punishment.

Dakota had been in Wilson’s care for only a month before the incident. After misbehaving, Wilson sat on him while on the phone with a caseworker. Despite Dakota screaming, she continued to apply pressure, assuming he was pretending. By the time she checked him, his eyelids were pale, and he was unresponsive.

Dakota passed away two days later after being airlifted to the hospital. The autopsy revealed he died from mechanical asphyxia, caused by the crushing force. Just before the incident, Dakota had sought help from a neighbor, saying he had been hit by his parents.

Wilson was sentenced to six years in prison, with one year suspended. The tragedy highlights the urgent need for better care and protection in foster systems. Dakota was remembered for his love of the outdoors and his unique spirit. His death serves as a painful reminder that children in foster care deserve better care and protection.