SCARLETT’S Story WILL KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT – The SHOCKING CASE of SCARLETT JENSEN
Samantha Jensen, a devoted mother of three, eagerly packed her bags for a much-anticipated getaway to a wedding out of town. She would be traveling with her brother, Alex, and her two-month-old daughter, Molly, as she wasn’t ready to leave Molly for an extended period. She felt more than comfortable leaving her other two children, 3-year-old Scarlett and 2-year-old Henry, in the loving care of her mother, Mima Jaime, during the day while her husband, Lane, was at work.
Scarlett and Henry adored their Mima, and the prospect of spending time with her was always something they looked forward to. Samantha felt incredibly fortunate to have her mother’s unwavering support. As Samantha loaded her and Molly’s belongings into the car, the laughter and excitement of Henry and Scarlett filled the air, mingling with Mima Jaime’s playful banter.
With a final check to ensure everything was packed, she rushed over to envelop her children in hugs and kisses, never imagining that this tender moment could be their last together. Just before catching the plane, Samantha received a FaceTime call from Scarlett. My usually happy little Scarlett was crying. She remembers:
“She was upset that her snow globe had broken, but I told her that her grandma was taking her for ice cream and I promised to buy her a new snow globe while I was away.”
The wedding was a beautiful celebration, and although Samantha relished the time away, her heart ached for Scarlett and Henry. The anticipation of returning to them kept her spirits high. Soon she found herself boarding the plane with little Molly, eager to reunite with her family. Unbeknownst to Samantha, the journey home would lead her into an unimaginable nightmare, one that no mother should ever have to endure. As the plane soared through the sky, the world she had known was on the brink of being shattered, plunging her into a new, tragic reality.
The anticipation of returning to them kept her spirits high. But as the plane touched down, an unsettling alert flashed on her phone: “Heavy police presence on Valley Street. Please avoid the area.” Valley Street was her street. Alarm bells rang in her mind and she began to worry. Desperately trying to reach her mother, Samantha dialed again and again, but each call went unanswered.
As panic set in, she contacted her husband, Lane, at work, who stated he didn’t have any information as to what was going on near their home. Mid-conversation, a flight attendant announced that police needed to speak with Samantha upon her deplaning. “In the airport, I spotted the two police officers, and a wave of dread swept over me,” Samantha stated.
Desperate for answers, she asked the police officers who was hurt. But unfortunately, they had no other information and advised her to call the local hospital. Trembling, Samantha dialed the number and was met with life-altering news. Her son, Henry, had been struck by a car and airlifted to the hospital in critical condition.
Panicked, Samantha left Molly in the care of her brother, Alex, and left with the police who drove her to the hospital. On the way there, Samantha called Lane and told him to meet her there. After arriving at the hospital, she was directed to the emergency room where she found Henry unconscious, his small body clinging to life.
“His beautiful little face was covered in blood. I cried as I stroked his silky blonde hair and I told him I was there.” A nurse soon appeared and asked Samantha to come with her to the chapel. There, she told Samantha that her mom and Scarlett had also been hit by the car. She said Jaime was being treated at the hospital, but Scarlett didn’t make it.
“I stared at her, trying to make sense of what I’d just been told. The words, ‘Scarlett didn’t make it,’ rang in my ears. Then I screamed, ‘My baby couldn’t be dead. She was just a baby and she had a soccer game tomorrow.'” I reached into my bag to grab my phone and I found the snow globe I’d bought for Scarlett. It hit me then how I’d never see her smiling little face or hear her voice again.
Samantha then called Lane, who was on his way to the hospital. “I sent his world crashing down. The wounded sound that came from the other end of the phone was something I knew I’d never forget.” In one devastating moment, Samantha’s entire reality crumbled beneath her. Her son was critically injured, her mother was hurt, and her precious daughter was gone.
Everything she knew had been torn apart, leaving her drowning in a sea of grief and disbelief. Her mind and her heart couldn’t process any of this. “I needed to find Scarlett. There’s no way she’s gone. She’s only three. She has her whole life ahead of her.” Lane and I held each other and cried. When we went to see Scarlett, she looked so peaceful, as if she was sleeping.
We dressed her in her favorite blue dress and brown suede shoes. We brought all her favorite toys to her, and we brushed her golden curls, painted her nails, and we read her favorite bedtime story, Goodnight, Scarlett. Later that day, Samantha and Lane visited Jaime. She’d suffered a broken collar bone, torn ligaments in her leg, and a dislocated shoulder.
When she saw us, she burst into tears and apologized. We reassured her that none of this was her fault. Before we dive deeper into Scarlett’s tragic story, let’s take a moment to get to know her and honor her memory. Scarlett June Jensen entered the world on New Year’s Day in 2019. As the eldest of three siblings, Scarlett naturally took on the role of a caring and doting sister, often leading her brother Henry in playful adventures.
Her love for the outdoors was boundless. She absolutely loved animals, gardening, and picking flowers while also embracing her passion for playing soccer. Scarlett had a charming duality. She was equally comfortable getting her hands dirty in nature as she was twirling in her princess dresses, serenading her family with songs from the movie Frozen.
To her parents, she was the light of their lives, their beloved firstborn daughter.
On the serene afternoon of October 7th, 2022, Scarlett’s grandmother, Mima Jaime, took Scarlett and Henry on a leisurely walk to McDonald’s for ice cream. On their way back home, Scarlett begged to be let out of the stroller to look at the flowers. They paused along the familiar dirt road right outside their home where Scarlett and Henry jumped out to pick some of the wild flowers.
A beloved tradition on their private path, far from the chaos of the main road. In a moment that will forever stand still, Jaime captured a photo of the kids—the last photo ever taken of beautiful little Scarlett. The tranquility was shattered in an instant. A distant sound reached Jaime’s ears.
Her heart skipped a beat, sensing something was wrong. Before she could fully comprehend the threat, a tan 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe erupted into view, careening up the secluded path. This road, a sanctuary known only to those visiting the Jensen home, was never meant for strangers. In a heart-stopping realization, Jaime noticed the vehicle turned and began heading directly towards them.
She realized they were in danger and desperately tried to wave and scream at the driver of the Tahoe, to no avail. She then tried pushing the children out of the way. Yet, the vehicle closed the distance with terrifying speed, leaving no room for escape. The moments stretched into a harrowing eternity as the Tahoe veered, its intent unthinkable, its impact inevitable.
In those fateful seconds, the world they knew was irrevocably altered, their lives forever changed by the devastating collision. Jaime, Scarlett, and Henry were all hit by the Tahoe. Idaho State Police said the vehicle overturned and came to rest on the side of the road in a neighbor’s lawn. The driver fled the scene on foot while Jaime’s screams echoed through the air.
A neighbor called 911 and others rushed over to stay with Jaime and the kids until help arrived. First responders rushed Jaime to a local hospital via ambulance while little Henry was life-flighted to Spokane in critical condition. Little Scarlett was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Tahoe, 23-year-old Dakota James Lafontaine, was apprehended by police soon after the crash and arrested.
I can’t even imagine the flood of emotions Samantha and Lane were dealing with. Her mother was seriously injured, her son in critical condition, and the loss of her firstborn daughter, all in an instant. She had to be strong for Henry. But how? It seemed like an impossible task. Henry suffered numerous injuries, including eight broken ribs, a broken jaw, a spinal fracture, liver lacerations, and bruised lungs.
He had to wear a full-body brace for 8 weeks. His recovery was slow, but he miraculously survived. Not only did little Henry sustain horrific physical wounds, but emotional wounds as well. Those wounds would take much longer to heal. According to Samantha, he would ask where his sister was, and “I told him that she was in heaven. And while we couldn’t see her, she would always be with us.”
A couple of weeks after Scarlett’s death, Jaime’s phone was recovered from the crime scene. On it was a photo Jaime had taken of Scarlett, taken just moments before she was killed. The photo had been taken at 4:47 p.m. and Scarlett’s time of death was 4:52 p.m.
It was heartbreaking to look at the picture knowing what came next. Samantha stated Scarlett was later cremated with all her favorite things and laid to rest, surrounded by those that loved her the most. “I rested my head on Lane’s shoulder as we watched her tiny casket disappear from view. Through tears, we sang her favorite song, ‘Into the Unknown’.”
I feel grateful that her last moments were peaceful and happy, spent with her brother picking flowers and with a belly full of ice cream. Samantha said Henry was released from the hospital a few days later. The driver, as mentioned before, was Dakota James Lafontaine, 23 years old of Newport, Washington.
He was charged on October 12th, 2022, with second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery, and a count of leaving the scene of an accident. Combined, the four charges could put him behind bars for 45 years if convicted on all counts. The investigation found Dakota was not under the influence at the time of the crash.
He stated he was having a mental breakdown and didn’t remember anything. That seems to be a convenient defense. Investigators reenacted the crime and found that Dakota would have seen Jaime and the kids clearly and definitely would have seen Jaime waving her hands. They also found no sign he applied brakes or made any attempt to avoid her and the kids.
The road Jaime and the kids were on is a dirt road that is not well-maintained. It’s basically private. Only a few residents use it. He was speeding up that road and veered right toward them. Never applied the brakes or tried to turn the vehicle away. He was going so fast the Tahoe rolled over after impact.
Dakota didn’t get out to see if they were okay, try to render aid, or call for help. No, he ran. Running from the scene shows consciousness of guilt. What I find interesting is how did he end up on this private dirt road? I mean, if you’re lost and make a wrong turn, you usually slow down and try to figure out where you can turn around.
Dakota was from Newport, which borders Oldtown. It’s not like he was from another state. I’m sure he knew his way around. He wasn’t under the influence. So, how on earth did he end up barreling up a private dirt road, turning the vehicle towards Jaime, who was shouting and aggressively waving her hands, and just keep the accelerator on, running over three victims?
Being charged with second-degree murder and aggravated battery shows law enforcement didn’t believe this was an accident at all. So, if it wasn’t an accident, how did this happen? Were Jaime and the kids targeted? I’m just speculating here because we may never know Dakota’s intentions that day, but Jaime and the kids walked to McDonald’s.
According to the map, it shows it’s 0.8 miles away and that it’s 15 minutes walking distance. The kids were in a stroller. I’m assuming a two-seater, so they didn’t have to walk the entire distance. I wonder if Dakota saw them at McDonald’s or walking back and followed them to the private road. This whole incident just seems too random to be random, if you know what I mean.
Did Dakota snap? Have some deep-seated anger that caused him to take it out on an innocent grandmother and her toddler grandchildren? Typically, the main road would be the one that you would think would be the most dangerous, not your own private drive. You would think when you got there, you could let your guard down.
Why wouldn’t Jaime feel safe to let the kids out to pick flowers? They were basically home at this point. I found some court records online that sent me into a tailspin. All three of the most serious charges were dismissed by the court. Murder in the second degree and two aggravated battery charges using a deadly weapon or instrument.
Then I scrolled down a little farther and found the fourth charge. Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in an injury or death was dismissed by the prosecutor. Why? Well, it looks like there was a plea agreement. Dakota pleaded guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter. His sentence: 10 years in prison. Dakota was only 23 when he committed this heinous act.
If he serves his entire sentence, and that’s a big if, he will be out when he’s 33 years old. He will have plenty of time to live a full life. But not Scarlett. She was only here for 3 years. And because of his actions that day, she’s gone forever. And her family, they were given a life sentence of grief and loss. Henry will forever live with not only the trauma from his physical injuries, but the mental and emotional trauma of losing his sister in such a violent way.
It seems beyond unfair. This had me asking why it seems tragedies like this involving murder by vehicle seem to be viewed differently when it comes to our laws and sentencing. This case brought up a past loss I experienced many years ago. Two friends of mine, a married couple, had just given birth to their first child in early December.
And on New Year’s Eve, only a few weeks later, they were both killed instantly by a drunk driver, leaving their newborn son an orphan. The driver lived, of course, and was only sentenced to 4 years for literally destroying an entire family. And this wasn’t his first drunk driving incident. I could never understand the justification behind such a light sentence when not only would an entire family have a life sentence, but their newborn son would as well, never knowing his father or his mother.
So when I read about precious little Scarlett, I tried to dig deep into why the most serious charges against her killer would be dropped. Why deaths involving vehicles where the intent to kill seems clear are seen as less serious than if a different weapon was used. What I found is that intent seems to be the operative word.
It’s hard to prove in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt what the intent of a driver may have been. In the case of my two friends, although the driver chose to drink and get behind the wheel, his intent was most likely not to murder my friends. In Scarlett’s case, though, it seems the evidence shows Dakota’s intent was clear. No brakes.
He would have clearly seen them, and he was sober. So, I’m left frustrated and infuriated as to why they allowed him to take a plea. The only thing I can think of is maybe prosecutors were afraid his defense of some sort of mental breakdown would induce some sympathy from a jury and he would be exonerated.
So, the plea deal guaranteed a conviction on something. In my opinion, Dakota should serve a life sentence just as Scarlett and her family are forced to. If he truly is suffering some sort of mental impairment, this case proves he’s a danger to others and himself, so he should spend the rest of his life locked up in a mental health facility.
He decided to play God that day and attempted to take out three souls and save himself. He should have an equally harsh sentence as Scarlett and her family. I know this video isn’t as long as most of my videos, but when I read about Scarlett’s case, I had to tell her story. It’s so egregious. I wanted to bring awareness to the fact that Scarlett or her family didn’t seem to get justice.
I can’t imagine what Samantha went through that horrific day and continues to deal with today. Literally going to a wedding only to arrive home and find out your son has been critically injured, your mother is seriously injured, and your precious daughter is no longer here. Samantha has since had another daughter and honors little Scarlett in every family photo.
Mima Jaime lives with Samantha, Lane, and the kids so she can spend every precious moment possible with them. Samantha also runs a small business that she says has helped her with the weight of her grief. I’ll link her website in the description of this video if you would like to go show your support and I’ll also link her TikTok account where she shares her story and updates on her family.
Here is what the “About Me” section of her website says: “Our family lives on a small homestead in Plummer, Idaho. I spend my days raising babies and tending to animals and the garden. We grow herbs, vegetables, flowers, and have about 30 chickens. My husband and I have four kids, three on Earth and one in heaven.
I started this business after my oldest daughter was killed, and I needed something meaningful to occupy my free time. I love spreading knowledge about holistic health approaches, herbs, and body care. I would love to share some of my small-batch, homemade, quality self-care items with you.” I have so much respect for the strength Samantha has shown in sharing Scarlett and her story with the world.
And my heart breaks for her and the tragedy she has been forced to endure. Rest in love, precious Scarlett. You will never be forgotten.
