‘I treated them all equal’: Josie Dikeman denies abusing dead child

LA CROSSE, Wis. (Court TV) — A woman charged with the death of her boyfriend’s young son denied any responsibility for his death and repeatedly accused the child’s father of abuse as she took the stand on Tuesday.

Josie Dikeman testified in her trial on May 12, 2026. (Court TV)

Josie Dikeman, 33, testified for hours as she stands trial on charges of first-degree intentional homicide, chronic neglect of a child resulting in death and repeated physical abuse of a child.

While prosecutors have said that Dikeman routinely abused the victim, 6-year-old Alexavier Pedrin, the defendant told the jury that she treated the child the same as her own children in the home. “He was my son,” she said. “I loved Alex with all my heart, just as if he came out of me.” When pressed, she maintained, “I treated them all equal.”