Jennifer Marie Stately was found guilty Wednesday of five counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson following a two-and-a-half-week trial, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen.
Stately, now 37, attacked and killed two of her young children at their home on Red Lake Nation in March 2024 and then set the home on fire.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Stately assaulted the boys causing numerous injuries and attacked them with a knife. Stately fatally stabbed her older son before setting the home on fire. Investigators with the ATF determined Stately used gasoline and lighter fluid to ignite three separate fires, including fires at both exit points of the home. The older boy died of his sharp force injuries, and the younger boy was trapped inside and died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The federal jury ultimately rejected Stately’s affirmative defense claim of insanity and returned guilty verdicts on all six counts: 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.
After setting the home on fire, Stately fled the scene and was missing for several hours. The Red Lake Tribal Police Department issued an AMBER Alert. Less than an hour later, a motorist spotted Stately in Todd County — approximately 150 miles south of her home. Minnesota State Patrol, the Todd County Sheriff’s Department, and the Long Prairie Police Department responded to Stately’s location, and she was apprehended. Stately’s other 3-year-old son was found safe in the vehicle but was suffering from signs of neglect, according to media reports at the time.
“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. “We stand with our federal and tribal law enforcement partners in our shared grief and commitment to seeking justice and supporting the community.”
A social media post from the BCA also expressed gratitude to the Minnesota resident who contacted law enforcement in response to the Amber Alert. “We are grateful to the Minnesotan who acted quickly in response to the statewide AMBER Alert, which led to Stately’s arrest and the recovery of her surviving child,” it read.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, aided by the ATF, the BCA, the Todd County Sheriff’s Department, the Long Prairie Police Department, and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department.
Stately will be sentenced at a later date.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
