A tragic 2018 case in western Wisconsin drew national attention after a 10-year-old girl was accused of causing the death of a six-month-old boy at an in-home day care. Although social media posts sometimes claim that the girl was “sentenced for murder,” available public reporting does not support that statement. She was charged with homicide, but the case was later moved into juvenile court, where proceedings are generally confidential. Authorities did not publicly identify the girl because of her age and court status.
The incident occurred on October 30, 2018, at a home in the town of Tilden, near Chippewa Falls. The property served both as a foster home and an in-home day care. Authorities said the 10-year-old girl was living there in foster care when the infant, later publicly identified as Jaxon Hunter, suffered severe head injuries.
According to statements presented by Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell, the girl told investigators she had been holding the baby when she accidentally dropped him. The infant reportedly struck his head on a footstool and began crying. Prosecutors alleged that the girl panicked, feared getting into trouble, and stepped on the baby’s head. Investigators said the pattern of the injuries was consistent with the tread on her shoes.
Jaxon was first taken to a local hospital and later flown to a hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Despite medical efforts, he died on November 1, 2018, two days after the incident. The loss devastated his family and shocked the surrounding community.
The girl was initially charged in adult court with first-degree intentional homicide. Under Wisconsin law, certain serious charges involving children aged 10 or older begin in adult court, although a judge can later transfer a case to the juvenile system. At an early hearing, a judge set a $50,000 cash bond.
In March 2019, a judge found the girl incompetent to stand trial, meaning she was not considered capable at that time of understanding the proceedings or assisting in her defense. Later that year, court records indicated that she had been found competent, waived a preliminary hearing, and had her case transferred to juvenile court.
That transfer is crucial when describing what happened afterward. Juvenile cases are handled privately, and public reports do not reveal a final judgment or sentence. There is therefore no verified public basis for claiming that the girl was convicted and sentenced for murder.
The case raised difficult questions about child development, criminal responsibility, foster-care supervision, and the treatment of very young defendants accused of severe crimes. It also led to legal action over whether agencies or caregivers could have prevented the tragedy. A federal lawsuit filed by Jaxon’s parents was dismissed in 2022.
What remains publicly established is heartbreaking: a baby died, a 10-year-old child was accused, and the criminal case ultimately entered the confidential juvenile system. Any headline stating that she was sentenced should be corrected unless supported by newly released court records.