A woman from New Hampshire has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the tragic death of her 5-year-old son, who was found buried in a Massachusetts park after being beaten, starved, and neglected. Danielle Dauphinais, 38, faces a sentence of 58 years to life in prison for her role in the death of her son, Elijah Lewis.
Dauphinais initially pleaded not guilty but changed her plea to guilty, also admitting to two counts of witness tampering. The child, Elijah, was discovered missing and later found dead in October 2021. An autopsy revealed that he had suffered severe physical injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment, and other forms of abuse.
Dauphinais’ boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, also pleaded guilty to charges related to Elijah’s death and was sentenced to 22 to 45 years in prison. Text messages read in court showed Dauphinais expressing hostility towards her son, including statements about starving him and physically assaulting him.
Elijah’s father had raised concerns about his son’s well-being but was assured by Dauphinais that he was safe. However, Elijah was found to be severely underweight and malnourished when his body was discovered. Dauphinais had misled authorities about Elijah’s whereabouts and had attempted to cover up the abuse.
Prosecutors described the extent of Elijah’s suffering, including torture, physical assaults, and emotional maltreatment. Dauphinais was indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and witness tampering.
Following their arrests, Elijah’s remains were found, leading to the charges against Dauphinais and Stapf. The case has sparked outrage and highlighted the importance of protecting vulnerable children from abuse and neglect.
By Kathy McCormack
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