A mother from New Hampshire has received a sentence of over 50 years to life in prison after confessing to the abuse and neglect of her 5-year-old son, culminating in his burial in a park in Massachusetts.
Last month, Danielle Dauphinais entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder and additional charges related to the death of Elijah Lewis, as part of a deal with prosecutors. She wept in the courtroom as the judge stated that she was fully aware of her actions, “taking his life slowly, moment by moment, over time.”
In 2022, Joseph Stapf, the boyfriend of Dauphinais, entered a guilty plea for charges including manslaughter, second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, and witness tampering related to the tragic death of the boy. The individual received a prison sentence ranging from 22 to 45 years.
Elijah’s autopsy revealed significant facial and scalp injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment, and the presence of pressure ulcers. Prosecutors presented a collection of messages exchanged between Stapf and Dauphinais that conveyed animosity towards Elijah and irritation over his failure to comply with their expectations.
“He said he wants food and he wants me to stop starving him because it’s not nice,” one said. Another message read, “I’m gonna kill him and I mean it,” and another said, “I hit him with the shower rod that’s all I did.”
In November 2020, a doctor’s visit revealed that Elijah weighed 32 pounds (14.5 kilograms) and had visible bruises on his face, eye, and arm, according to prosecutors. Dauphinais subsequently informed the agency that her son was relocated to California to reside with her sister, a custody arrangement that the father had consented to; however, prosecutors indicated that Dauphinais failed to comply with this agreement.
In October 2021, it was reported that Dauphinais welcomed a baby boy at home, according to prosecutors. Stapf took the baby to a hospital, planning to abandon him there. Authorities discovered traces of drugs in the infant and reached out to the child welfare agency, prompting an inquiry. The search yielded no evidence of Elijah’s whereabouts.
Dauphinais mentioned that her son was with her sister first, followed by her brother. Investigators were informed by both relatives that Dauphinais had reached out to them, requesting that they provide false information regarding Elijah’s location.
According to prosecutors, Elijah’s death occurred in September 2021, after which the couple allegedly placed his body in a container and transported it to Abington Park, where Stapf reportedly excavated a hole and buried him.
While Elijah remained unaccounted for, Stapf and Dauphinais were taken into custody in New York. Shortly following their apprehension, the remains of Elijah were discovered.
Authorities reported that upon discovery, Elijah measured 3 feet in height and weighed 19 pounds, whereas a typical 5-year-old boy would stand around 3.6 feet tall and weigh nearly 40 pounds.
