Mother Accused of Killing 6-Year-Old Son, Setting House Fire That Trapped 5-Year-Old

A mother has been convicted by a federal jury in Minnesota for stabbing her 6-year-old son several times and setting the house on fire. She also left her 5-year-old inside the house, blocking his exit as the home burned.

Jennifer Marie Stately, a 37-year-old mother with three sons was convicted on February 26, for stabbing her 6-year-old son multiple times before torching the house, resulting in the deaths of her son Remi and Tristan. She then ran away with the toddler who had suffered 95 percent burns. The incident took place on March 15, 2024.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Stately fatally stabbed her 6-year-old son Remi in the chest, before using lighter fluid and gasoline to start the fire at her Red Lake Nation, Minnesota home. After stabbing her older son, Stately started three fires, including at both exits of the house, making it impossible for her younger son Tristen,5, to escape. Triesten hence died of smoke inhalation.

Stately faces two counts of first degree murder, two counts of murder one count of child abuse , and one count of murder committed during arson, according to the DOJ.

As reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune, Stately’s defense lawyer told the court that she thought the house was demonized. Authorities described Stately’s actions as “horrific and unthinkable.”

Rick Evanchec, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) interim special agent in charge of the Minneapolis field office, said the "children had no chance at survival while in the care of one person who should have kept them safe.”

After Stately killed Remi and Tristan, she fled with her 3-year-old son but was apprehended after an amber alert was issued and a motorist spotted her.

The family described Tristan as a spirited little boy in an obituary who was left to die by his mother. Ethan, the 3-year-old son who Stately fled with, was covered with sores and had scabs on his feet that made it impossible for him to stand-up, according to prosecutors and Law&Crime. The missing children notification went out after the police discovered the fire on the reservation and within one hour located and arrested Stately.

Stately’s defense presented an insanity argument, which was rejected by the federal jury. Her conviction was welcomed by law enforcement.

Drew Evans, Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions Superintendent, said, “We all witnessed the devastating aftermath of Jennifer Stately’s horrific and unthinkable actions that night. We hope that holding her accountable for her crimes will provide some sense of justice for the family and the entire Red Lake community who are forever impacted with the loss of these two boys.”