A La Crosse County jury convicted Josie Dikeman, 34, on all three counts stemming from the February 11, 2023 death of six-year-old Alexavier Pedrin [1]. The charges, first-degree reckless homicide, chronic neglect of a child with death as a consequence, and physical abuse of a child through repeated acts causing death, survived to trial in La Crosse County Circuit Court [1]. Prosecutors alleged that Dikeman subjected the child to sustained physical violence over a period of time before his death [1].
Trial testimony included accounts from Dikeman's own children, who told the jury they witnessed her hit, choke, and kick Alexavier on multiple occasions [1]. The medical evidence presented centered on blunt force trauma as the cause of death [1]. The verdict was returned on May 15, 2026 [1].
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled, according to available reporting [1]. Wisconsin's first-degree reckless homicide statute carries a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison, and the additional child-abuse and neglect counts each carry substantial consecutive exposure under state sentencing guidelines, though no sentencing date has been publicly confirmed at this time.
No post-verdict motions or appeal filings have been reported as of the verdict date [1].