Josie Dikeman’s bond in Onalaska child abuse homicide case lowered, as defense suggests victim’s father may have committed the crime

A La Crosse County judge lowered the bond for Josie Dikeman of Onalaska, who’s charged with physical abuse in the death of a 6-year-old boy.

At a court hearing on Wednesday, Dikeman’s previous cash bond of $250,000 was reduced to $50,000 cash. If Dikeman is released from jail, she will have to wear a GPS monitor and would be under house arrest, while waiting for the August trial.

Dikeman was arrested in May of last year, several weeks after the boy, Alexavier Pedrin, died.

Alexavier Pedrin was the son of Dikeman’s boyfriend, Derek Pedrin.

Defense attorney Christopher Zachar argued that recently-found evidence, including “recordings, cellphone records, eyewitness accounts” will indicate that Derek Pedrin actually caused the child’s death.

“There is a growing body of evidence that points directly at Derek Pedrin as the person responsible for Alexavier’s death,” Zachar told La Crosse County Judge Elliott Levine.

Zachar added that videos show Derek Pedrin beating Dikeman and children at home “routinely,” including the evening of Feb. 10, 2023, when the father was arrested “shortly before his child died.” Mr. Pedrin is not charged in the case.

Prosecutor Julie Nelson, however, said witnesses, including other children at a party, saw Dikeman injuring Alexavier Pedrin.

Nelson said La Crosse District Attorney Tim Gruenke noted that “nobody other than the defendant (Dikeman) claims that Derek ever hit the victim, especially on the night in question.”

She argued that, according to the criminal complaint, other children in the house saw Dikeman hitting Alexavier Pedrin.

Attendance in the courtroom was smaller than during some previous hearings for Dikeman, when spectators have worn shirts with the message “Justice for Alexavier.”

Dikeman is due back in court on Jan. 7 for a motion hearing, when the judge could consider a request to have the trial moved out of La Crosse County.