LA CROSSE, Wis. (Court TV) — A Wisconsin woman faces decades behind bars after she was convicted of killing her boyfriend’s young son.

Josie Dikeman, 33, was found guilty of first-degree reckless homicide, chronic neglect of a child resulting in death and repeated physical abuse of a child causing death.

Dikeman had been free on bond during the trial; she was taken into custody after the verdicts were read. Her sentencing will be held at a later date not yet scheduled.

Dikeman had pleaded not guilty in the death of her boyfriend’s son, 6-year-old Alexavier “AJ” Pedrin, who died in February 2023 of blunt force trauma. A medical examiner determined the child had multiple bruises on his face, scalp and neck, along with internal injuries that included a torn liver and swelling to his brain. Xanax was also allegedly found in his blood.

“He was a typical little kid that just had fun,” Pedrin’s grandmother, Cheryl Anderson, told WXOW. “He had cousins the same age; they were like the three musketeers. It’s hard seeing my other grandsons without him…I’m just so sad what he went through.”

Prosecutors said that Dikeman was the only adult home with the child at the time of his death. Pedrin had previously been admitted to the hospital the month before his death with a femur fracture. At the time, a doctor expressed concerns about potential abuse.

Online records reviewed by Court TV indicate that Dikeman had requested to move her trial out of La Crosse County, but the judge denied the motion.

DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 13 – 5/15/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 13 | Deadly Home Homicide
• The jury viewed several videos it had asked to see again.
• The jury returned a verdict.

DAY 12 – 5/14/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 12 | Deadly Home Homicide
• Richard Amundson was recalled to the stand
  • Testified to approximately 20 selfies taken by Dikeman on the night of Alexavier’s death.
• The state rested its rebuttal case.
• Prosecutors delivered closing arguments.
  • Dikeman forever silenced Alexavier with a brutal assault and intentional drugging.
  • She texted her date before calling her mom and then 911.
  • The amount of Xanax in the child’s system was enough to harm an adult.
  • It would have been impossible for Pedrin to drug his son because he was in jail. Dikeman is the only person who had the ability and the opportunity to stage the scene.
  • Pedrin abused Dikeman, but not the children.
  • Dikeman got rid of SD cards and deleted surveillance videos.
  • WATCH: Alleged Child Killer Staged the Scene of 6-Year-Old’s Death: State
• The defense presented closing arguments.
  • Highlighted a video where Pedrin asks, “Do you like getting beaten?” Pedrin was not Alexavier’s protector; he was the child’s abuser.
  • Dikeman is an innocent woman, while Pedrin, who is a dangerous man, remains free.
  • Medical science doesn’t support murder. Multiple reasonable explanations support Dikeman’s innocence.
  • Evidence doesn’t show murder; it shows an overdose and abuse.
  • This death was tragic but not intentional.
  • WATCH: Alleged Child Killer Staged the Scene of 6-Year-Old’s Death: State
• The jury began its deliberations.

DAY 11 – 5/13/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 11 | Deadly Home Homicide
• Dr. Erik Christensen, forensic pathologist
  • Alexavier’s cause of death can’t be definitively determined; he could not rule out drug intoxication as a cause of death.
  • Believed Alexavier most likely died from respiratory failure in a gradual dying process.
  • Overdosing on Xanax can slow down breathing and can cause death.
  • Alexavier had significant injuries from blunt force trauma that could be attributed to rough play with his siblings.
• Josie Dikeman returned to the stand to continue her testimony.
• The defense rested its case.

DAY 10 – 5/12/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 10 | Deadly Home Homicide
• Dr. Courtney Endres, forensic psychologist
  • Met with Dikeman and interviewed her about her background and performed psychological testing.
  • Significant deficits with memory, and had PTSD and depression. She viewed the world as a hostile and untrustworthy place.
  • Diagnosed Dikeman with major neurocognitive disorder, which impairs a person’s daily activities. Her immediate memory is poor and her ability to recall memories deteriorates over time.
• Josie Dikeman, defendant
  • Denies killing Alexavier Pedrin. He was her son and she loved him as much as her own.
  • Described her relationship with Derek Pedrin, which she said was abusive.
  • She said she is 100% disabled after TBIs after she was assaulted both by Pedrin and an ex-girlfriend.
  • Alexavier was a happy kid, but his father abused him from the time he was a baby.
  • Never withheld food or water from Alex, but sometimes he would eat things that would make him sick.
  • MORE: ‘I treated them all equal’: Josie Dikeman denies abusing dead child
  • WATCH: Courtroom Shock as Accused Child Killer Takes the Stand

DAY 9 – 5/11/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 9 | Deadly Home Homicide
• Deputy Richard Amudsen returned to the witness stand.
  • Testified to Dikeman’s texts to Pedrin on Feb. 11 and Feb. 12, 2023. In them, Dikeman said she made a new Facebook Messenger so that detectives “can’t see what she talks about.”
  • Pedrin is not a suspect in his son’s death.
  • No evidence shows a motive for why she would want to kill Alexavier that night.
• Prosecutors rested their case.
• Misty Craig, Pedrin’s ex-girlfriend
  • Derek Pedrin is the father of one of her children.
  • Together for a year before she left, then found out she was pregnant and tried to make it work for another year.
  • Learned Pedrin was getting married and it broke her heart.
  • Pedrin told her that if she talked about Alexavier or the trial that he would cut her head off and ship it to her mother.
  • Pedrin threatened her.
• Justin Bellido, knows Derek Pedrin
  • Worked with Pedrin; came to the defense during the trial because he “knew Derek was lying.”
  • Pedrin told him he’d often take Xanax before work; there was a white residue in the bathroom one time after Pedrin left.
  • Heard Pedrin say he popped his daughter in the mouth.
  • Has two previous convictions and left his job so he wouldn’t be fired.

DAY 8 – 5/8/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 8 | Deadly Home Homicide
• Dr. Alison Glowacki, Gunderson pediatric hospitalist
  • Worked with Alexavier Pedrin on Jan. 16, 2023.
  • Alexavier was with his father when she came into the room. He appeared comfortable in the bed and had his leg splinted.
  • She saw bruises and marks on Alexavier’s body when she examined him.
  • Went over photos and X-rays taken of Alexavier.
  • Noticed a shift when Dikeman came into the room; she was not aware of any domestic violence in the home.
• Deputy Richard Amudsen, investigator, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office
  • Assigned to the case on Feb. 11, 2023. He wrote the search warrants, which included legal prescriptions, illegal prescriptions and illegal drugs.
  • On Feb. 14, 2023, a second search warrant was executed at the residence; they used equipment to scan and make a model of the home.
  • Photos of the rooms showed a messy home.

DAY 7 – 5/7/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 7 | Deadly Home Homicide
• John Williams, investigator, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office
  • Investigative sergeant at the time of the incident and was in charge of everything at the scene.
  • Did an initial interview of Dikeman that was captured on bodycam and shown to the jury. In the interview, she talks about the medication she takes, where it’s located and what happened with Pedrin the night before.
  • Dikeman appeared upset and was crying.
  • In a second interview, Dikeman talked about Pedrin and his drinking the night before when he was arrested.
  • In another interview, Dikeman is told there’s a search warrant for her home. She said Pedrin gave her his marijuana.
  • There were at least two male DNA profiles on the medication bottle; one matched Alexavier.
  • WATCH: Accused Child Killer Tears Up in First Interview With Deputies
• Amanda Hanson, nurse practitioner, Mayo Clinic
  • Alexavier was brought into the clinic for right leg pain. She noted a fracture to his right femur.
  • Dikeman told her that Alexavier was accidentally thrown down the stairs by his sister the day before they came in. She noticed that the child kept looking at Dikeman when he told the nurse what happened to him.
  • Alexavier had two old scabs on his eye and light bruising to his left flank.
  • There was concern the injury could have been caused by a person and not a fall; she contacted child services as a mandatory reporter.
• Kimberly Ford, registered nurse, Gunderson Pediatric Dept.
  • Alexavier was treated for a femur fracture.
  • Dikeman came off as defensive when she arrived. She thought they would just get a cast but was given a full exam; Alexavier was upset and let Dikeman answer questions for him.
• Ashley Cuppett, inpatient physical therapist, Gunderson
  • Started working with Alexavier on Jan. 17, 2023.
  • Noticed that Alexavier was in quite a bit of pain.
  • Father was there the whole time; Dikeman arrived approximately halfway through. The father was very attentive.
  • Dikeman did not seem as involved as the father.
• Video of interview with Pedrin and Dikeman’s then-4-year-old child was played in court.
  • Said her brothers all punch her.
  • Said her dad is always mean to her mother and yells at her and kicks her.
  • Says she pushed her brother down the stairs to break his leg because he was stealing and lying. She said her mother was there and her brother told her to push him.

DAY 6 – 5/6/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 6 | Deadly Home Homicide
• Danielle Swedberg, Coordinator, Family & Children’s Center
  • Testified to a forensic interview with Pedrin and Dikeman’s son, who said the night before he died, Alexavier stole some Cheetohs and got in trouble and his mom kicked him.
• Pedrin and Dikeman’s son testified.
  • Testified that he saw Dikeman hurt Alexavier at home. He said he saw Dikeman push him down the stairs into the basement and he broke his leg.
  • He said that Dikeman hit and kicked the victim when their father was at work or away.
  • Said that Dikeman would hit the victim with a spatula and put hot sauce on his food.
  • During cross-examination, he said he started calling his mother “Josie” after Alexavier died and that’s what everyone else calls her.
  • His father told him not to look at Dikeman in court.
  • He lives with his father, sister and grandmother; he hasn’t spoken to his mother since she went to jail and is not allowed to talk to anyone from his mother’s side of the family.
  • Said he saw Pedrin hit Dikeman.
  • WATCH: Accused Child Killer Gets Emotional as Young Witness Testifies
• Amy Oliver, school principal
  • Alexavier attended her school in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.
  • Provided investigators with documents showing attendance and other school records; the children had attendance problems and had each missed 20-30 days of school out of a total of 77 days.
  • She is a mandatory reporter; nothing specific was communicated that was a cause of concern for her.
  • Dikeman sent her an email saying there always had to be another adult in the room when the counselor talked to her children.
• Elizabeth Lubinski, Chief Medical Examiner, La Crosse County
  • Responded to the scene of Alexavier Pedrin’s death. All she knew at the time was a 6-year-old male was dead at the scene.
  • Did a full head-to-toe assessment of the victim. She noticed he was on the floor, she noted a black tar substance and several contusions on his face.
  • A photo displayed in court showed a cart in the kitchen with fruit, where the bananas were visibly rotting and black.
  • Sent the body for an autopsy on Feb. 13. The first death certificate listed Alexavier’s manner of death as “pending.” The final autopsy results were submitted on May 17, 2023. The death certificate was amended to say Alexavier’s death was a homicide on June 28, 2023. The cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma due to homicidal assault and the toxic effects of alprazolam.

DAY 5 – 5/5/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 5 | Deadly Home Homicide
• Danielle Swedberg, Coordinator, Family & Children’s Center
  • Conducted forensic interviews of AJ’s siblings.
  • Major’s forensic interview was played in court. He said that Alexavier was kicked a lot and he saw “mom” choke the victim with her hands and he stopped breathing.
  • In a second forensic interview, the child said Alexavier’s death was sad; they said the day he broke his leg it was bent back towards his head.
    • Josie told Alexavier that if he didn’t stop crying, she’d do it harder.
    • Said Alexavier was being choked while he was on the ground and Dikeman had one hand around his neck.
  • The defense questioned the reliability of questioning a child and asked whether children can be coached.
• The defendant’s 11-year-old son testified.
  • Said he saw his mother hurt Alexavier; she would hit, punch, kick and choke the victim.
  • Derek would be at work when Alexavier was physically abused. He witnessed the abuse in the kitchen, where Alex would fall and Dikeman would kick him while he was on the ground. He saw the victim kicked in multiple parts of his body.
  • Dikeman choked Alexavier a day before he died and he saw her two hands around his neck. He saw Alexavier struggling with his legs and arms flailing, trying to get away while being choked.
  • Dikeman hit and punched Alexavier “everywhere” on his body as he tried to get away.
  • Dikeman wouldn’t allow Alexavier to eat; he would only be given the crusts when they got pizza. Alexavier would have to eat on the floor and was forced to eat hot sauce.
  • The abuse would not happen when Derek was home.
  • Saw Dikeman push the victim down the stairs.
  • WATCH: Child Said His Mom Shoved Murdered Child Down the Stairs
  • MORE: Children testify that Josie Dikeman kicked victim, pushed him down stairs
• Sarah Wagner-Barton, social worker, La Crosse County Human Services
  • Alexavier’s leg fracture was listed as an accidental injury; it was decided not to do forensic interviews for the case.
  • In an interview with Major, he said that both parents spanked Alexavier.
  • Had no immediate concerns for the victim’s safety.
  • Did not observe signs of neglect at home.

DAY 4 – 5/4/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 4 | Deadly Home Homicide
• Loraley Pedrin, married to Derek Pedrin
  • Has known Derek for almost 10 years.
  • She heard Alex saying she was waiting for Josie to go to sleep so he could go look for something to eat in the kitchen.
  • Dikeman said there was a bag of medication she would hide from the kids and that it was out and (Alex) must have gotten into it.
  • She knows Dikeman took pain pills; she would get them from a man named Ted.
  • She said Derek was verbally abusive to Dikeman.
  • She trusted Dikeman with her children, but not Derek, because they were afraid of him.
  • She saw the victim being treated poorly by Derek, not Dikeman.
  • Currently married to Derek, but he lives with his mother.
  • WATCH: Woman Hid Pills From Kids Before 6-Year-Old’s Death: Friend
• Deputy Darsten Jahr, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office
  • Responded to the scene after Dikeman called 911.
  • Dikeman’s 911 call is played for the court.
    • MORE: Josie Dikeman tells dispatchers ‘I found him on the ground’ in 911 call
  • Dikeman said that the victim had gotten into a bag of medications.
  • A white, clear, frothy substance came out of Alexavier’s mouth when he was rolled over. When Jahr started compressions for CPR, a black fluid came out of the victim’s mouth.
  • Unclear when the medication bottle got next to the victim or who last touched it.
  • A white fragment on a pillow could have been a pill.
  • Photo shown of a medicine bottle found near Alexavier.
  • WATCH: ‘Alex Got Into My Medication’: 6-Year-Old Was Unresponsive As Authorities Arrived
• Read Quinton, Forensic pathologist
  • Alex had a cast on his right leg.
  • He appeared dehydrated, with his ribs visible and eyes sunken. There were bruises on his body; the number and location of the bruises stood out to him.
  • Too many injuries to be attributed to a fall.
  • Internal exam revealed no evidence of skull fracture but there was brain swelling. That and the laceration to his liver would not have caused his death immediately; they were painful injuries that would have become worse over time.
  • Determined the injuries were from blunt force trauma.
  • Toxicology testing revealed melatonin and Xanax in his system. Xanax level was 250 nanograms/milliliter.
  • No damage was visible to the neck muscle. There was no trauma to deeper neck tissue or soft tissue; there was no evidence of strangulation and the airway was not damaged.
  • Can’t say how his injuries were caused or when.
• Deputy Joseph Anderson, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office
  • Responded to the crime scene.
  • Found Alexavier on the bed; officers performed CPR.

DAY 3 – 5/1/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 3 | Deadly Home Homicide
• Derek Pedrin returned to the stand.
  • The jury saw a video showing Pedrin and Alex, with Alex in tears and being yelled at.
  • Admitted to telling people that he would kill Dikeman if she wasn’t convicted.
  • In recordings, Dikeman never said she hurt the victim.
  • Denied using xanax before the child’s death.
  • WATCH: Father in Child Death Case Denies Xanax Use, Shifts Blame to Girlfriend
• Deputy Joseph Kernin, La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dispatched to check on the welfare of a 6-year-old on Feb. 10 and to look for his father who was out on bond and not supposed to be there.
  • Thought he saw Pedrin go into the kitchen and then the living room.
  • Testified to bodyworn camera video recorded from that day.
  • Saw Alexavier sleeping in the home; the child did not appear to have been crying or have any redness on him. He did notice a small injury to the corner of his eye that appeared to be days old.
• Deputy Robert Paff La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office
  • Responded to a welfare call for a child; had no contact with Derek Pedrin.
  • Left the residence and went up the hill to continue watching the home; asked Josie and requested her help talking to Pedrin. A recording of that call was played in court.
  • Pedrin came out and talked to them; he thought he smelled like alcohol.
  • Played a 911 call from November that led to Pedrin’s arrest.
  • No contraband was found on Pedrin when he was arrested.

DAY 2 – 4/29/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 2 | Deadly Home Homicide
• Derek Pedrin, victim’s father
  • Described his son as fun and loving.
  • He and Josie Dikeman had a blended family. She had a son from a previous relationship, and he had two children from a previous relationship. Together, he and Dikeman had two children. He has another child with a third woman with whom he is still in a romantic relationship.
  • Admitted to having a problem with alcohol. Drinking makes him angry and agitated. He has been aggressive toward Dikeman while drinking but denied ever being violent toward his children.
  • Videos shown to the jury show violent arguments with Dikeman; one video showed a child claiming his father hit him.
    • WATCH: Explosive Video: Child’s Father Yells ‘You’re the F****** Crazy One’
  • Claimed he purchased drugs, including Xanax, for Dikeman.
  • On Feb. 10, he went to the house after work despite a no-contact order. He saw Alexavier throwing up. The police came and arrested him for violating the order. He called Dikeman from jail that night and she did not report any problems.
  • The next morning, he was told his son had died by his family, who came to the jail to tell him.
  • Recorded conversations with Dikeman to help law enforcement. In each conversation, she denied any knowledge about how the child died.
  • During cross-examination, Pedrin said that he never saw Dikeman act violently towards his children and never saw Alexavier starved or lacking food.
  • MORE: Recording reveals Josie Dikeman told boyfriend ‘I’m free’ after his son’s death
  • WATCH: ‘I Threatened It’: Murdered Child’s Father Testifies on Abuse Allegations

DAY 1 – 4/28/26

• LIVESTREAM: WI v. Josie Dikeman – Day 1 | Deadly Home Homicide
• The prosecution delivered opening statements.
  • Alexavier was killed when the defendant put her hands around his neck and choked him, and hit him in the face.
  • The child had multiple blunt force injuries to his head and face as well as bruises.
  • Xanax was in Alexavier’s bloodstream
  • On Feb. 11, Dikeman called 911 and said she needed an ambulance for her son, who was on the ground and not breathing. She said there was a bag of drugs on the floors he must have gotten into.
  • Dikeman was talking to another man from 6p to midnight, exchanging 100 texts and setting up a date for the next day.
  • Derek Pedrin, Alexavier’s father, was a domestic abuser.
  • WATCH: Murdered 6-Year-Old Was Battered, Bruised By Dad’s Girlfriend: State
• The defense delivered opening statements.
  • Alexavier’s father was the one who was hurting the child and the one to blame for his death; he made the lives of his children and Josie a living hell.
  • Beatings were caught on video.
  • The children would sleep in Josie’s room because they were scared. of their father; he would stand over them when he was drunk and abuse them each night.
  • WATCH: Murdered Child’s Father Was The One Behind His Death: Defense