RED LAKE, Minn. — A northern Minnesota woman has been charged with murder, arson and child neglect following the death of two children on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in March.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office in Minneapolis, on March 15, 35-year-old Jennifer Marie Stately of Red Lake attacked two children, slashing them with “a knife or other sharp object,” and then setting a house on fire. One of the children was fatally stabbed in the chest, and the other one suffered non-fatal stab wounds but ultimately died of smoke inhalation.
Authorities did not name the victims, but the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that they were Stately’s children, ages 5 and 6.
After setting the house on fire, Stately fled the scene in her vehicle with a third child. That night, an Amber Alert was issued for the child. Soon after the alert was issued, a motorist spotted Stately’s vehicle and contacted law enforcement, authorities said.
Todd County law enforcement found the vehicle with Stately and a 3-year-old boy inside. The Star Tribune reported that he was her son.
“Upon seeing him in the vehicle, law enforcement immediately observed that (the child) had scabs covering his face and entire body,” the complaint read. “Open sores covered roughly 95% of his face … His cheeks were red and the sores appeared to be bleeding.”
The child was taken to the Long Prairie Hospital where a full-body examination revealed that he had several open sores and lesions. He also had “rotten” teeth and was unable to eat, the complaint read. Stately was arrested on suspicion of child neglect and endangerment, malicious punishment, torture and assault.
On Monday, Stately appeared in U.S. District Court, where she was ordered to remain in custody pending further proceedings.
Her attorney, Paul Engh, said in an email to the Associated Press that there is a “firm basis” for a not guilty plea, but did not elaborate.
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