Minnesota Woman Convicted of Murdering Sons in Amber Alert Case

Red Lake, MN (MinnesotaNow) -  A Minnesota woman has been convicted of multiple murder charges in federal court for the deaths of her two young sons two years ago.

A federal jury found 37-year-old Jennifer Marie Stately guilty of five counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson following a two-and-a-half-week trial. According to the charges, the Red Lake woman assaulted two of her children with a knife and fatally stabbed her older son before setting the family's home on fire.

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Prosecutors Detail Fatal Stabbings and Fire

Federal prosecutors say investigators determined that she used gasoline and lighter fluid to start three separate fires, including fires at both exit points of the home. Autopsy results showed the oldest boy died from stab wounds, while one of his younger brothers succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning while trapped inside the burning home.

Statewide AMBER Alert Issued After Incident

The charges say Stately then fled with a third child, prompting a statewide AMBER Alert. She was later spotted about 150 miles away and was apprehended in Todd County.

Insanity Defense Rejected

Stately was found guilty of all charges against her. Her attorney unsuccessfully presented an insanity defense in the case.