A Minnesota woman convicted of disorderly conduct after confronting a child with autism at a Rochester playground has raised nearly $900,000 through crowdfunding, despite video of the incident going viral and drawing millions of views nationwide.

Jury Delivers Split Verdict in High-Profile Case

An Olmsted County jury found Shiloh Hendrix guilty of disorderly conduct against a man who filmed the April 2025 confrontation at Roy Sutherland Playground near Soldier’s Field Park. The jury acquitted her on a second disorderly conduct charge involving the eight-year-old child at the center of the incident. Hendrix’s attorney filed an appeal this week, though no hearing date has been scheduled.

The confrontation occurred on April 28, 2025, when the child, who has autism, took an applesauce pouch from a diaper bag belonging to another family. According to the criminal complaint filed in August 2025, Hendrix chased the boy and allegedly called him a racial slur, causing the child to freeze in fear. The boy’s father told police he feared Hendrix would physically strike his son before he intervened.

Video Goes Viral As Case Draws National Attention

The father recorded video of the encounter on his cell phone, which subsequently spread across social media platforms and accumulated millions of views. The footage sparked widespread outrage and generated numerous reaction videos. Rochester police responded to the playground shortly after 6 p.m. that evening and launched an investigation that led to criminal charges three months later.

Following the incident, Hendrix posted a crowdfunding campaign claiming her family faced significant turmoil after her personal information was leaked online. She expressed concerns about potential threats to her family’s safety and the possibility of relocating. The campaign description stated she needed donations to protect herself and her family members from the fallout.

Crowdfunding Effort Raises Substantial Sum

As of late July 2026, Hendrix’s crowdfunding campaign had collected approximately $900,000 from donors. The substantial sum came despite the guilty verdict and widespread criticism of her actions toward the child. The appeal process now moves forward as Hendrix challenges her conviction on the disorderly conduct charge related to the man who filmed the confrontation. The case continues to generate debate about accountability, online justice, and the consequences of viral incidents captured on video.