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Jaymeson Wahlstrom and Vivian Wahlstrom (Itasca County Jail).
A Minnesota stepmother has been sentenced to prison for the severe abuse of her young stepdaughter, a case described by prosecutors as “one of the most horrific child abuse cases” they’ve seen in the state.
Vivian Rose Wahlstrom, 25, admitted to charges of child torture and received a 57-month prison sentence, equating to 4 years and 9 months. She has been credited for the 433 days already served. Her husband, Jaymeson Patrick Wahlstrom, aged 28, faces identical charges and is slated to appear in court on March 23.
According to Law&Crime, much of the abuse was shockingly recorded by an in-home camera installed in the girl’s room. The father himself allegedly informed authorities that they would be “surprised when watching the video footage and things that they will find,” as noted in a 17-page affidavit detailing probable cause for arrest.
The Grand Rapids Police Department launched an investigation in early October 2024 after the child arrived at school with a prominent black and yellow bruise on her upper right arm. During a police interview, the girl claimed her father was responsible for the injury. He reportedly described her as a child with “significant needs,” and mentioned efforts to get her therapy, hindered by long waiting lists, according to the affidavit.
Medical examination revealed over 20 bruises scattered across her body, including her arms, mouth, ribs, back, thighs, shoulders, face, and ears, as documented by police. Upon visiting the home, authorities found the girl’s room in deplorable condition: a bare, urine-stained mattress on the floor, a lone blanket, a stack of dirty dishes with moldy food, and a TV. The rest of the home was similarly squalid, with urine, dog feces, dirty clothes, and trash present, as reported in the affidavit.
Cops arrested Jaymeson Wahlstrom and interviewed him at the jail. Post-Miranda, he explained that the girl in question is his daughter from a previous relationship, while he and his wife have two other biological children together. The father said his wife was not interested in caring for the girl and suggested to him that they send the girl to a boarding school or they would get a divorce, according to the affidavit. Jaymeson Wahlstrom also allegedly said he would punish the girl by taking food away and that she ate paint chips. She also played with an empty McDonald’s Happy Meal box because she didn’t have any other toys, the affidavit said.
Detectives reviewed videos from the girl’s room, which showed her “in her room alone for long periods of time every day.” The parents allegedly would take the girl’s blanket away if she misbehaved and would constantly tell her to “lie right” by lying on her back with her hands at her side. If she moved, they would yell at her to return to that position. She was allegedly told to “go to bed” at all times of the day and only allowed to leave her room if she had to go to the bathroom. The parents also allegedly would berate her on a near-daily basis. In one instance, the girl walked out of her room and Vivian Wahlstrom yelled at her daughter, “Get in your room before I f—ing kill you,” the affidavit said.
The father also reportedly described to detectives a time a few days prior to his arrest when he had “lost it” after learning his daughter had disrespected his wife. Videos showed a daylong beatdown where he hit her close to 100 times, cops alleged. She was punched, slapped, kicked and slammed against the wall by her father, the affidavit said. He also ripped off her clothes. All the while, Vivian Wahlstrom egged on her husband. He continued to yell at his daughter, cops said.
“Until you have some words to say, you will not be going to school, you will not be getting food, you won’t be getting anything but your bed and the toilet,” Jaymeson Wahlstrom allegedly screamed. “You better f—ing think of some meaningful words for your mom or she won’t take care of you anymore.”
Prosecutors filed the child torture charges against the Wahlstroms on Dec. 19, 2024. Child services took custody of the three children.
Jake Fauchald, Itasca County Attorney, released the following statement to Twin Cities ABC affiliate KSTP.
Following a diligent investigation undertaken by the Grand Rapids Police Department, the Itasca County Attorney’s Office has filed Child Torture charges against Vivian and Jaymeson Wahlstrom. The evidence supporting these charges is primarily in the form of numerous videos taken from a camera within the Wahlstrom home that depict the Wahlstroms engaging in barbaric assaults against a child in the home. These heinous crimes are without precedent in Itasca County and rank highly amongst some of the most abominable child abuse cases ever encountered in Minnesota. The Itasca County Attorney’s Office is treating this case with the seriousness that it deserves and will seek an outcome that is commensurate with this reprehensible conduct and in the best interests of the child-victim.