Jennifer Stately is a killer from Red Lake Minnesota who would murder two of her children
According to court documents Jennifer Stately would stab one of her sons before leaving the house and setting the home on fire. The one son would die from his stab wounds whereas the other would perish in the fire
Jennifer Stately would flee the scene with her third child however she would be arrested hours later
Jennifer Stately who was tried on the Federal level attempted to put forth an insanity defense however that would fail as she would be convicted of the following charges: two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of murder in the course of committing child abuse, one count of murder in the course of committing arson. and one count of arson.
Jennifer Stately will be sentenced at a later date where she is facing a life sentence
Jennifer Stately Case
A Red Lake woman has been found guilty of five counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson in the killing of two of her sons.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says that, following a two-and-a-half-weeklong trial, a jury found 37-year-old Jennifer Marie Stately guilty of:
two counts of first-degree premeditated murder,
two counts of murder in the course of committing child abuse,
one count of murder in the course of committing arson,
and one count of arson.
At trial, Stately pursued the affirmative defense of insanity. The jury rejected that defense and convicted her of attacking and killing two of her young children on Mar. 15, 2024.
The evidence at trial showed that Stately, when alone with the children at their home on Red Lake Nation, assaulted the boys and attacking them with a knife, causing numerous injuries. Investigators determined Stately used gasoline and lighter fluid to ignite three separate fires, including fires at both exit points of the home.
While the older boy died of his sharp force injuries, the younger boy was trapped inside and died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Stately fled the scene after setting fire to the home and was missing for several hours. The Red Lake Tribal Police Department issued an AMBER Alert, and less than an hour later a motorist spotted Stately in Todd County, where she was arrested.
Red Lake Mother Found Guilty of Murder, Arson in Her Sons’ Deaths
Jennifer Stately News
A Red Lake woman was found guilty Wednesday, Feb. 25, of six crimes related to the murder and abuse of her children.
Jennifer Marie Stately, 37, stood trial and was found guilty of two counts of premeditated murder, two counts of murder in the course of committing child abuse, arson, and murder in the course of committing arson.
On March 15, 2024, Jennifer Stately was home alone with her three children on the Red Lake Reservation when she killed two of them and fled with the third, according to an indictment filed in the case. She slashed at two of her children with a knife and fatally stabbed one of them in the chest. The second child’s death was caused by smoke inhalation that resulted from Stately intentionally setting fire to the home, the indictment said.
Jennifer Stately fled the scene with her third child. An AMBER alert was issued that night, around 9 p.m., that resulted in Stately’s whereabouts being reported to law enforcement, who then apprehended her. This child was found to be neglected, suffering substantial bodily harm by being deprived of necessary medical care, according to a complaint filed in the case. Another court document details wounds including open sores, lesions, rotten teeth with visible holes, and feet covered in scabs. The child’s injuries caused visible discomfort, according to the document.
Stately’s legal representation presented an insanity defense, which is defined in the case’s jury instructions as someone being unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of their acts due to a severe mental disease or defect.
The burden of proof for this defense lies on the defendant and their legal representation; however, the defense doesn’t have to prove insanity beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead, there must be clear and convincing evidence that the insanity defense is credible and highly probable, the instructions say.
Each charge could have one of three verdicts: guilty, not guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity.
Jury selection took place Feb. 9, and the trial itself lasted approximately seven days, though some were partial days. Evidence offered by the prosecution throughout the trial included jail calls, autopsy photos, photos of the car and personal records. The trial was held in Minneapolis.
After closing arguments, jury deliberation lasted one hour Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 25, with the jury returning guilty verdicts on all counts.
A presentence investigation was requested, which will examine Stately’s willingness to take responsibility, likelihood to reoffend, background and other factors that can help the judge determine an appropriate prison sentence. The sentencing date has not been set
