A 32-year-old mother in Ohio was arrested this week for allegedly killing her 8-year-old son, who died in a June house fire that also injured her other 10-year-old son.
Dakota Rae Jones was taken into custody on Monday and charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and five counts of endangering children in the death of young Wyatt Duchette, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
A grand jury in Huron County returned a true bill indicting Jones on those charges in connection with the June 7, 2023, fire. The indictment alleges that Jones “did cause the death of [Wyatt]” and that his death was the proximate result of Jones “committing or attempting to commit the felony offense of endangering children.”
Dakota Rae Jones, Wyatt Duchette, and the aftermath of the fire that took the 8-year-old’s life (WOIO screenshots)
The fire occurred inside the family’s home in the 100 block of E. Main Street, according to a report from Shaker Heights, Ohio CBS affiliate WOIO. The is just over 50 miles west of Cleveland, Ohio.
“(The) fatal fire on June 7 remains an open case with the State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau and is still an ongoing investigation,” Thomas Ellinger of the State Fire Marshal’s Office told the Norwalk Reflector in October. “While an exact cause of the fire is currently undetermined, a possible cause of discarded smoking materials cannot be ruled out by our investigators.”
Before Jones’ arrest, police said they were able to confirm the most likely source of the fire through a “tireless” investigation.
“Through a lot of the investigation, our detective and the State Fire Marshal’s Office, we were able to determine that really there was no cause to the fire other than what would have been poorly discarded smoking material that would have been left in that area,” Norwalk Police Chief Scott Dahlgren told Cleveland Fox affiliate WJW. “It’s tragic. There’s really no other way to put it except for it’s just a completely sad situation. You know, unfortunately this little boy has lost his life in such a tragic accident, but we’re glad this could bring some closure.”
Dahlgren reportedly added that Jones is the person police believe was responsible for the improperly discarded smoking material.
Jones was not home at the time of the fire. She reportedly told police she had stepped out briefly to go to the bank and returned to see her house in flames. Both of her sons were in the house at the time.
Police body camera footage obtained by WJW showed police as they were placing Jones under arrest on Monday.
“Just go. Get it over with” Jones says in a taunting tone as she’s being escorted to a police cruiser in handcuffs. “No, he already knows what’s going on. Just let’s go and get it over with. Come on.”
Jones appeared in Huron County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday where she pleaded not guilty to all seven counts filed against her. A judge ordered her to be held in detention on $50,000 bond.
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