RED LAKE, MN – A chilling case has unfolded in northern Minnesota, where a woman stands accused of the brutal murder of two children, setting a house ablaze, and serious child neglect, according to an indictment revealed on Monday.
Jennifer Marie Stately, 35, is in the eye of a storm of charges that include premeditated murder, murder in the act of child abuse, arson, and murder during arson. Her legal counsel, Paul Engh, has hinted at a possible not guilty plea, without divulging further specifics.
The victims, although not officially named by the authorities, are believed to be Stately’s own offspring, aged 5 and 6, as reported by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
The indictment outlines a harrowing series of events on March 15, where Stately allegedly attacked the children with a knife at their residence on the Red Lake Indian Reservation, ignited the house, and fled with her 3-year-old son.
The indictment and a press statement from U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger reveal that one child died due to a stab wound, while the other perished from smoke inhalation caused by the fire.
In the aftermath of the fire’s discovery, an Amber Alert was promptly issued. Roughly an hour later, a vigilant motorist spotted a vehicle that matched the Amber Alert description and alerted the authorities. Deputies in Todd County intercepted Stately and found the surviving child, who bore clear signs of neglect, according to the press statement from Luger’s office.
Stately was brought before the court on Monday and has been detained pending further legal proceedings.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans underscored the crucial role of Amber alerts in such cases. He expressed his gratitude to the alert Minnesotan who reported the suspicious vehicle and to all who join in the search when a child’s life hangs in the balance.