Federal Jury Finds Red Lake Woman Guilty in Deaths of Her 2 Sons
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A woman has been found guilty in federal court of killing her two young sons and setting fire to their home.
The verdict followed a two-and-a-half-week trial stemming from the deaths of the children on March 15, 2024, at a home on Red Lake Nation.
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Prosecutors said Jennifer Marie Stately, 37, of Red Lake, attacked the boys while alone with them inside the residence, causing numerous injuries and using a knife during the assault. Evidence presented at trial showed Stately fatally stabbed her older son before igniting multiple fires inside the home.
Federal investigators determined gasoline and lighter fluid were used to start three separate fires, including fires set at both exit points of the residence. Authorities said the older boy died from sharp force injuries while the younger child became trapped inside and died from carbon monoxide poisoning as the fire spread through the home.
After setting the fires, Stately left the scene and was missing for several hours. Red Lake Tribal Police issued an AMBER Alert, and less than an hour later a motorist reported seeing her in Todd County, about 150 miles south of Red Lake. Minnesota State Patrol troopers, deputies and local officers responded and took her into custody.
The jury returned guilty verdicts on all six counts charged: two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of murder committed during child abuse, one count of murder committed during arson and one count of arson. During trial, Stately pursued an insanity defense, which jurors rejected.
In a statement following the verdict, FBI Interim Special Agent in Charge Rick Evanchec said, “The FBI is honored to have partnered with federal, state and tribal law enforcement partners to bring justice to these young victims who had no chance at survival while in the care of the one person who should have kept them safe.”
Red Lake Department of Public Safety Director Kendall Kingbird Sr. said, “The guilty verdict this week brings justice to a case that has deeply affected our entire Red Lake Nation community. On behalf of the dedicated men and women of this department, I want to acknowledge the tireless work of our Investigators along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Minnesota BCA Crime Scene Technicians, Todd County Sheriff’s Office, Long Prairie Police Department and lastly the United States Attorney’s Office for their professionalism and determination with such a tragic incident.”
Stately now faces sentencing at a later date in U.S. District Court.
The verdict followed a two-and-a-half-week trial stemming from the deaths of the children on March 15, 2024, at a home on Red Lake Nation.