RED LAKE, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — Jennifer Marie Stately, 37, has been sentenced to life in federal prison for murdering her two young sons.
The Red Lake woman received her sentence Friday, November 6, 2026, following a federal murder and arson conviction.
U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim imposed the sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota.
Red Lake Mother Convicted of Murder and Arson
A federal jury found Stately guilty on February 25, 2026, following a two-and-a-half-week trial.
She was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson.
The charges stemmed from the deaths of her two young sons on March 15, 2024.
According to federal prosecutors, Stately attacked both children inside their family home on the Red Lake Nation.
Court evidence showed she assaulted the boys and attacked them with a knife.
Her older son died from stab wounds before Stately set the house on fire.
Investigators Found Three Separate Fires
Federal investigators determined Stately used gasoline and lighter fluid to start three fires inside the home.
Two fires were set near the home’s exits, blocking possible escape routes.
Her younger son became trapped inside the burning house.
He died from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to evidence presented during the trial.
AMBER Alert Led to Arrest in Todd County
After setting the fire, Stately fled the Red Lake area and remained missing for several hours.
The Red Lake Tribal Police Department issued an AMBER Alert as authorities searched for her.
Less than an hour after the alert, a motorist spotted Stately in Todd County.
The location was approximately 150 miles south of her Red Lake home.
Minnesota State Patrol, Todd County deputies, and Long Prairie police responded to the reported location.
Authorities arrested Stately and booked her into the Todd County Jail.
Federal Jury Rejected Insanity Defense
During her federal trial, Stately’s defense argued that she was not guilty because of insanity.
Jurors rejected that defense and found her guilty on all six counts.
The murder convictions included charges involving premeditation, child abuse, and arson.
The case involved investigators from federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies.
Red Lake Community Remembers Two Children
The Red Lake Department of Public Safety thanked investigators and first responders for their work on the case.
Tribal officials said the sentence reflected the seriousness of the crimes.
They also recognized the lasting loss experienced by the children’s family and the Red Lake community.
Federal prosecutors expressed condolences and emphasized the importance of accountability for the children’s deaths.
The sentencing brings the federal trial and sentencing process to a close more than two years after the killings.
Readers can review the official sentencing announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Additional federal court information is available through the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.
Copyright 2026 TRF News. All rights reserved.
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