Death of 10-year-old Indiana boy in foster care ruled a homicide

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. (TCN) -- A coroner has ruled the death of a 10-year-old boy in foster care a homicide after the child died in April following a "medical emergency."

According to the Indianapolis Star, on Thursday, April 25, Porter County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a home in Falcon Way in Valparaiso regarding a young boy suffering from an emergency. The boy, Dakota Stevens, was transported to a hospital in Porter, then airlifted to another facility in South Bend. Stevens was taken off life support after two days.

WGN-TV reports Stevens' death has since been ruled homicide by mechanical asphyxia. No one has been arrested in connection with the boy’s death.

According to WGN, Stevens had been in foster care for several years because his parents suffered from drug addiction. His father ultimately died from a blood infection related to his drug use. The boy’s aunt had custody of him and his sister for about a year, and she said he "brought a lot of joy" to others.

The Indiana Department of Child Services reportedly removed Stevens and his sister from their aunt’s custody and returned them to state custody. His sister got adopted, and Stevens was placed with other foster families.

The Department of Child Services told the Indianapolis Star in a statement, "Our entire staff is heartbroken by this news. DCS works with stakeholders and partners across the state to investigate the death of a child any time there is suspected abuse or neglect and will take the appropriate action."