Mom accused of stabbing young sons, setting home ablaze with them inside indicted in deaths

A Minnesota mother whose 3-year-old son was at the center of an Amber Alert earlier this year has been indicted on charges, including murder, in connection to the brutal stabbing and fire-related deaths of two of her young children.

Jennifer Marie Stately, 35, was indicted Monday on charges of premeditated murder, murder while committing child abuse, arson, murder while committing arson, and felony child neglect in connection to the March 15 killings and abuse, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced in a news release.

The alleged brutal attacks and arson took place on Red Lake Indian Reservation in Beltrami County in North Central Minnesota, federal prosecutors said.

Prosecutors did not name the children, but according to public records obtained by USA TODAY, the fatality victims were identified as 5-year-old child, Tristan Collin Stately, and his 6-year-old brother Remi Leland Stately.

Born to (Jennifer) Stately and Brian Graves Jr., Tristan was "an outgoing spirited little boy who loved playing with his brothers," according to his obituary. Tristan loved anything "Sonic" and was a protector of his brothers, even though he was the middle child.

Remi's obituary described him as "a smart, funny, loving little boy" who also loved to play with his brothers. "He loved Jessie from Toy Story and Molly from Bubble Guppies."

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Indictment: Mother stabbed fatal victim before setting fire

According to the charging indictment, Stately reportedly attacked and killed the children at a home, slashing both of them "with a knife or other sharp object" and then set fire to the residence.

One of the children was stabbed in the chest and the other child, the indictment continues, suffered stab wounds, and ultimately died from smoke inhalation due to the arson fire.

After the killings, the indictment reads, Stately fled the scene in her vehicle with her 3-year-old child.

Around 9 p.m. that same day, court papers continue, authorities issued an Amber Alert for the child, believed to be with his mother, Stately.

A motorist spotted Stately’s vehicle, contacted authorities who located and stopped Stately’s vehicle in Todd County, about 125 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

According to the indictment, police found the 3-year-old boy suffering from visible signs of child neglect. Court documents go onto read the boy's teeth were rotten and he had open sores and lesions on his body.

Stately was arrested on suspicion of child neglect and endangerment, malicious punishment, torture and assault and booked into jail in Todd County.

Jennifer Stately pleaded not guilty to murder, arson, neglect charges

Court records show those charges were dismissed last week and the case moved jurisdictions to where the killings reportedly took place.

Stately appeared in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Leo Brisbois on Monday and online records show, pleaded not guilty to her new felony charges.

The judge ordered her to remain jailed pending further court proceedings.

Court records show she is due back before the judge for a motion hearing on June 17.

USA TODAY has reached out to Stately's attorney.

Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.