Dakota Levi Stevens Obituary – Police in Northwest Indiana reported that a 10-year-old boy in foster care in Porter County passed away after being hospitalized for a medical emergency last week.
Anise Rubalcava, the boy’s great aunt, expressed the family’s desire for answers regarding the incident, stating, “What happened? He was a healthy little boy.”
The boy, identified as Dakota Levi Stevens, was described as a very intelligent young man who enjoyed dismantling and reassembling items, as well as having a passion for sharks and cars.
Deputies from the Porter County’s Sheriff’s Office responded to a medical emergency call in Liberty Township on Thursday, April 25, where they found the boy unresponsive. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, he passed away on Saturday after being taken off life support.
The results of a state-mandated autopsy may take up to 60 days to be released. Hayden Hetzel, Dakota’s former foster father, had cared for both Dakota and his younger sister from 2019 to 2021.
The children entered the foster care system following the death of their father in 2021 and their mother relinquishing her parental rights. Indiana’s Department of Child Services expressed their sorrow over the tragic news and emphasized their commitment to investigating any suspected cases of abuse or neglect.
As Dakota was a ward of the state, family members were initially informed that they could not attend his funeral, but this decision was later reversed.
Dakota’s funeral is scheduled for Monday morning in Crown Point, with a vigil planned for the same day. Rubalcava mentioned, “We looking forward to reuniting one day. Unfortunately we’re going to reunite on Monday, but not as we planned.”
