WI v. Josie Dikeman: Deadly Home Homicide Trial – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay)
La Crosse, Wisconsin – A 34-year-old woman is on trial for the death of her boyfriend’s 6-year-old son, a case that has unfolded over nine days of testimony centered on medical evidence, family accounts, and conflicting narratives about what happened inside the home. Josie Dikeman faces first-degree intentional homicide charges along with counts of chronic neglect and repeated physical abuse, each carrying the possibility of a life sentence if she is convicted. The proceedings have highlighted a pattern of injuries that began weeks before the boy’s death in February 2023.
Medical Evidence Reveals Pattern of Trauma
Pathologists and hospital staff described extensive injuries to Alexavier “AJ” Pedrin that could not be explained by a single fall or accident. The child arrived at the hospital in January 2023 with a fractured femur, and examiners noted additional bruises on his face, scalp, and neck. Internal damage included a torn liver and brain swelling, while toxicology tests later detected Xanax in his system at levels far above therapeutic ranges.
Chief Medical Examiner Elizabeth Lubinski testified that the final cause of death was blunt force trauma from homicidal assault combined with the effects of alprazolam. She explained that the injuries would have caused increasing pain over time rather than immediate fatality. Earlier hospital visits had already raised red flags, with one physician contacting child protective services after the leg fracture.
Children Describe Abuse in Court
Two of the victim’s siblings, ages 4 and 11 at the time of the incidents, provided detailed accounts of what they said they witnessed. The older boy testified that he saw Dikeman push Alexavier down the stairs, hit him with a spatula, and force him to eat hot sauce. He also described seeing his mother choke the child on the kitchen floor the day before the death, with Alexavier’s arms and legs flailing as he struggled.
The younger sibling’s forensic interview, played for the jury, echoed similar claims of physical punishment and food restriction. Both children stated that the abuse occurred mainly when their father was away at work. Cross-examination focused on whether the children had been coached or influenced by adults after the fact.
Family and First Responders Offer Context
The victim’s father, Derek Pedrin, testified that he had a drinking problem and had been aggressive toward Dikeman, though he denied harming his own children. He admitted buying Xanax for her and described arriving home to find Alexavier vomiting on the night before the fatal incident. Recordings of their conversations after the death were introduced, in which Dikeman repeatedly denied knowledge of how the boy was injured.
First responders who answered the 911 call found the child unresponsive on the floor with a frothy substance around his mouth. They performed CPR while noting a medicine bottle nearby and a white fragment that appeared to be a pill. The home was later described by investigators as messy, with rotting fruit visible in one photograph shown to the jury.
What Matters Now
The trial continues to examine whether Dikeman was solely responsible or whether the father’s documented domestic issues played a larger role. Prosecutors have emphasized that she was the only adult present at the time of death, while the defense points to prior welfare concerns involving both parents. The jury has also heard from school officials who noted excessive absences but no formal reports of abuse at the time.
With testimony now in its ninth day, the case rests on how the panel weighs the medical findings against the children’s statements and the adults’ competing accounts. The outcome will determine whether Dikeman spends the rest of her life in prison or returns to the community under a different verdict.
