Executive Summary
- Jennifer Stately was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson.
- The jury rejected Stately’s insanity defense after a two-week federal trial.
- The incident involved a fatal knife attack and a house fire that resulted in the deaths of two children.
- Jurisdiction shifted to federal court because the Red Lake Reservation is exempt from state authority under Public Law 280.
A federal jury in Minneapolis has convicted Jennifer Stately, 37, of five counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson in connection with the deaths of her two children on the Red Lake Reservation, according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday.
Evidence presented during the trial, which lasted over two weeks, established that the incident occurred in March 2024. According to prosecutors, Stately attacked two of her children with a knife while they were inside their home. The assault resulted in fatal stab wounds for her older son, while her second son sustained non-fatal injuries from the weapon.
Following the initial attack, Stately set the residence on fire with the children still inside. Forensic evidence indicated that the second son, who had survived the stabbing, subsequently died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by the blaze. Stately then fled the scene with her youngest child, prompting authorities to issue an AMBER Alert. Law enforcement eventually located her and the surviving child, who officials stated showed signs of neglect.
During the legal proceedings, Stately attempted to plead insanity. The Department of Justice noted that the jury rejected this defense, finding her guilty on all six counts. The case involved complex jurisdictional issues; Stately was initially charged by the state with child torture and assault. However, those charges were dismissed because the Red Lake Reservation is exempt from Public Law 280, meaning the state lacks jurisdiction over criminal matters on the reservation. Consequently, the case was prosecuted at the federal level.
Kendall Kingbird, Sr., Director of the Red Lake Department of Public Safety, stated, “The guilty verdict this week brings justice to a case that has deeply affected our entire Red Lake Nation community.” Kingbird credited the collaborative investigation involving the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and local sheriff’s offices.
It is important to note that under the U.S. justice system, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, a standard that has been met with this jury verdict.
Tribal Jurisdiction and Federal Oversight
The conviction of Jennifer Stately highlights the unique legal status of the Red Lake Nation within the United States judicial framework. Unlike other reservations in Minnesota where state authorities share jurisdiction under Public Law 280, Red Lake maintains a sovereign status that places major crimes, such as murder and arson, exclusively under federal jurisdiction. This verdict reinforces the role of federal courts in addressing serious offenses on tribal lands where state powers are limited, ensuring that procedural justice is administered through the Department of Justice.
