PORTER COUNTY, Ind. — A death investigation is underway following the death of a 10-year-old boy in Porter County, Indiana.
The family of the boy told WGN News that he was in foster care at the time of his death, adding that they are beyond frustrated at the lack of answers from authorities.
According to his maternal aunt, 10-year-old Dakota Levi Stevens was a creative child fascinated by trains, cars, and the outdoors.
“He was wonderful, wonderful doesn’t even cover it,” said the relative who did not wish to be identified. “He loved to bug hunt, and he would tell all the bugs when he caught them, ‘Don’t worry, I’m your Uncle Levi; I’m going to take care of you.’”
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According to the boy’s aunt, she last saw Dakota in 2019. Now, all she has left are photos of him.
“It’s really hard to believe that a child that was supposed to be under the care of the state was failed so miserably,” she said. “We were told that we were not good for him. That living with us wasn’t in his best interest, and then something like this happens, so it’s beyond heartbreaking.”
According to the Porter County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called out to the 200 block of Falcon Way for a medical emergency last Thursday. A 10-year-old juvenile was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
No updates have been given since.
“We have not heard anything from police,” the boy’s aunt told WGN News.
Relatives say they learned of Dakota’s death days later through word of mouth. According to the family, loved ones were informed of a funeral service for Dakota only after placing numerous calls to Indiana’s Department of Child Services.
“The only thing I’ve heard from DCFS regarding any of this is I was officially invited today to attend a service from him,” the boy’s aunt said.
Dakota was placed into foster care after the boy’s mother was unable to care for him. Dakota’s father passed away in 2021. According to his aunt, Dakota had been in foster care for several years, and child services denied multiple requests for relatives to visit him.
“My hope is that any party that was responsible for this or had something to do with it will be held accountable,” she said. “At the end of the day a child died. A child who was in the care of the state who was in the home of a trusted foster parent.”
The family adds that they plan to hire an attorney.
WGN reached out to Indiana’s Department of Child Services regarding Dakota’s death investigation. In response, DCS said:
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. DCS foster parents must complete intensive training and education to achieve licensure. Licensure is reexamined each year to ensure the foster family continues to meet DCS requirements, including additional training each year to maintain this license. DCS policy also addresses termination of licensure, which includes circumstances where a foster parent or member of the household has been substantiated for abuse or neglect.”