From left: Jennifer Stately (Todd County Jail) and her sons Remi and Tristan Stately (Whispering Pines Funeral Home).
A Minnesota federal jury has convicted a 37-year-old mother for the heinous act of fatally stabbing her 6-year-old son and setting their home ablaze, trapping her 5-year-old son, who was unable to escape and later died, while fleeing with her surviving child who sustained burns over 95% of his body.
Jennifer Marie Stately was found guilty on multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, murder while committing child abuse, murder during arson, and arson, as announced by the Department of Justice. She murdered her son Remi Stately, 6, with a knife, while her 5-year-old son, Tristan Stately, succumbed to smoke inhalation in their residence located on the Red Lake Nation.
After the tragic killing of Remi, Stately ignited three separate fires using gasoline and lighter fluid, strategically blocking the home’s exits, effectively trapping Tristan inside.
Rick Evanchec, the Interim Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office, remarked that the children stood “no chance at survival while in the care of the one person who should have kept them safe.”
The horrific events unfolded on March 15, 2024, at the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Following the attacks on her sons, Stately fled with her 3-year-old child but was soon captured after an Amber Alert was issued, aided by an attentive motorist.
The alert was activated shortly after authorities discovered the fire on the reservation. Within an hour, the Red Lake woman was located with her toddler and taken into custody.
“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 by the loss of these two young boys,” said Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans.
Jurors convicted Stately after a 2 1/2-week trial. Stately’s lawyers presented an insanity defense but jurors rejected that argument. A sentencing date has yet to be set.
Stately was indicted by the feds after local prosecutors in Todd County opted to dismiss an extensive number of existing state child abuse and neglect charges. They were dismissed so she could be charged federally.
The level of alleged neglect of Stately’s children was profound, court records show. The 3-year-old reeked of body odor because he had not been changed or washed in days. The sores covering his face were bleeding where they were not scabbed and the bottoms of his feet were so full of scabs that he could not stand because of the pain. The child’s teeth were also so rotted that he could not eat properly, prosecutors said.
Remi’s obituary described him as a fun-loving little boy who enjoyed playing with his siblings and loved the movie “Toy Story” and the kid’s television show Bubble Guppies. Tristan was described as an outgoing protector of his brothers despite being the middle child.
