Closing arguments have been delivered in the trial of Josie Dikeman, the woman accused of killing 6-year-old Alexavier Pedrin. The jury is now waiting to review about two hours of body camera footage before reaching a final verdict.
The case has moved through two and a half weeks of testimony, with prosecutors and defense attorneys presenting sharply different accounts of what happened. Dikeman, 34, faces a possible life sentence if convicted.
What prosecutors told the jury
State attorneys focused on the condition of Alexavier’s body and the findings from the autopsy. The complaint says the child died from blunt force trauma, and the toxic effects of a prescribed sedative were also listed as a contributing factor.
During closing arguments, prosecutors pointed to the extent of the injuries as evidence of repeated abuse. District Attorney Matthew Torbenson told jurors, “You saw the bruising on his body, on multiple planes on both sides of his face, head, and throughout all sides of his scalp, including on the top of his head. That was this defendant’s stamp of abuse.”
Prosecutors also urged the jury not to be distracted by other claims raised by the defense. They argued that the evidence supports the conclusion that Dikeman was responsible for the child’s death.
How the defense responded
Defense attorney David Bolles argued that the case was built around a conclusion from the start. He said investigators arrived quickly after a 911 call reporting the death of a child and immediately focused on Dikeman.
“Even in that first moment, Josie raises the possibility of overdose,” Bolles said, adding that police allegedly moved straight to the idea that she staged the scene. The defense maintained that reasonable explanations still exist and said the state has not proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The defense also pointed to Alexavier’s father, Derek Pedrin, arguing that he had more involvement in the events leading to the child’s death than Dikeman did. Prosecutors acknowledged that Pedrin has a history of domestic abuse, but said the defense was trying to use that history as a distraction.
Testimony from Dikeman’s children
The trial included testimony from Dikeman’s children, who told the court they saw her hit, choke, and kick Alexavier more than once. That testimony became a key part of the state’s case, along with the autopsy evidence and the injuries described in court.
The body camera footage now set for review is expected to give jurors another look at the early response in the case. Deliberations began around 3:30 Thursday afternoon, and the jury is scheduled to return to court on Friday to continue its work.
The verdict will depend on how jurors weigh the medical findings, the witness testimony, and the competing claims from both sides as they decide whether Dikeman is legally responsible for Alexavier Pedrin’s death.