Minnesota woman arrested in Wisconsin 7 months after tot's death
A Minnesota woman wanted in connection to the death of her 1-year-old child was recently arrested in Wisconsin on drug charges.
Nikki Potvin, 29, of Milaca, was charged in Milaca County District Court June 10 in connection to the Nov. 6, 2020 death of her 1-year-old daughter, who died as a result of overheating while being left unattended in a running vehicle, according to a criminal complaint.
The complaint says that the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office found the 1-year-old died of "Hyperthermia due to exposure to heat." Potvin informed an investigator last November that she buckled the infant into a car seat and then sat herself in the front seat, where she fell asleep.
When she woke, the child was asleep in the car seat, according to Potvin, who said she went back into her boyfriend's camper and left the girl in the car with the heater running.
"After an unknown period of time, [her boyfriend] asked to borrow Potvin's car, which is when [her boyfriend] discovered the child was deceased," the complaint says. Potvin's mother indicated to authorities that the child was left in the vehicle for approximately four hours, the complaint notes.
A warrant was issued for Potvin's arrest when the charges were filed June 10. She was then arrested a few days later in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, on unrelated drug charges, at which point authorities realized she was wanted for the third-degree murder charge, the Winona Daily News reports.
She was expected to be extradited to Minnesota following a court hearing in Wisconsin in July.
