A 34-year-old Wisconsin woman faces a potential life sentence if a jury convicts her of killing her boyfriend’s young son. Josie Dikeman is facing several charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, chronic neglect of a child resulting in death, and physical abuse of a child causing death, to which she has pleaded not guilty.

Dikeman requested her trial be moved out of La Crosse County, but her motion was denied by the judge, so her trial began promptly with opening statements on April 28, 2026.

Death of a Child

In the tragic death of 6-year-old Alexavier “AJ” Pedrin, Dikeman is facing serious charges after the child died in February 2023 of blunt force trauma. A medical examiner found that the child had multiple bruises in various places on his body, including his face, scalp, and neck. 

The examiner also allegedly found Xanax in his blood and determined the child suffered from internal injuries such as a torn liver and swelling to the brain.

According to prosecutors, Dikeman was the only adult home when the child died. Alexavier had also been previously admitted to the hospital a month before with a femur fracture. The treating doctor expressed concerns about potential abuse, but no action was taken. 

“He was a typical little kid that just had fun,” Cheryl Anderson, Alexavier’s grandmother, 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.”

Opening Statements

The prosecution delivered its opening statements by describing the disturbing events that caused the little boy’s death. They alleged that Dikeman killed Alexavier by putting her hands around his neck, choking him, and hitting him in the face. 

They backed up their statements using the visible injuries from the autopsy report, such as the blunt force trauma to his head and face, along with the many bruises.

They also noted that on February 11, Dikeman called 911, stating she found “her son” on the ground not breathing, and that she thinks he got into the bag of drugs that was lying on the floor near him. This incident was when they found Xanax in his system.

Prosecutors acknowledged that Alexavier’s father and Dikeman’s boyfriend, Derek Pedrin, was a domestic abuser. 

The defense opened with accusing Alexavier’s father of abuse and claiming he is responsible for the child’s death. Dikeman and the children feared for their lives, especially the nights he was drunk. The beatings were also caught on video, which will more than likely be presented to the court at a later time.

Alexavier’s Father Admits Guilt

The victim’s father, Derek Pedrin, took the stand on April 29, 2026, describing his son as fun and loving. He and Dikeman had two children together, and two other children from different relationships, one of which he is currently involved with. Dikeman has one child from a previous relationship as well.

He admitted to having a drinking problem, saying it makes him angry and agitated. He also admitted to being aggressive toward Dikeman but denied being violent towards the children.

Jurors watched a video showing the couple having violent arguments, and one showed a child saying his father hit him. On February 10, he went to the house despite a no-contact order and saw Alexavier throwing up. 

He was arrested for violating the order, and the next day, his family visited him in jail to tell him his son had died. Dikeman denied any knowledge of how the little boy died, and during cross-examination, Pedrin said he never saw the defendant act violently towards the children or that his son was starved. 

Witness and Expert Testimony

Pedrin’s current wife, Loraley Pedrin, took the stand Monday, and testified to her knowledge of the situation. She said she has known Derek for nearly 10 years, and witnessed him verbally abusing Dikeman. She trusted the defendant with her children over Derek because they were afraid of him. 

A forensic pathologist testified to the injuries the victim sustained. Read Quinton said Alexavier had a cast on his right leg and appeared dehydrated, his ribs visible, and eyes sunken. The number of bruises and location of them was alarming.

There was no evidence of a skull fracture, but an internal exam showed swelling of the brain, and the laceration to his liver would not cause an immediate death, but could become worse over time. The injuries were determined to be caused by blunt force trauma. 

Children Condemn Defendant

In forensic interviews with Alexavier’s siblings that were played in court yesterday show them saying they witnessed their “mom” choke the victim with her hands until he stopped breathing. One also said the day the victim broke his leg, it was bent backwards towards his head, and they heard Dikeman tell him if he continued to cry, she would do it harder.

Dikeman’s son, Major Hellreud, said he witnessed his mother hurt Alexavier by hitting, punching, kicking, and choking him. The father was supposedly at work at the time his son was being physically abused. 

He witnessed her choke the victim the day before he died, saying she had two hands around his neck while Alexavier fought to get away. Dikeman would continuously kick and punch the victim all over his body, and he was forced to eat on the floor, only scraps. The abuse would stop when the father came home.