Danielle Dauphinais, 38, is set to be sentenced Friday for her involvement in the 2021 death of her 5-year-old son, Elijah Lewis, whose remains were discovered in a Massachusetts park.
The child was found weighing only 19 pounds, showing evidence of severe neglect, physical abuse, and exposure to drugs.
Last month, Dauphinais entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder and other related charges, avoiding a trial through a deal with prosecutors, as reported by AP.
Her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, had previously been sentenced to a term of 22 to 45 years in prison after admitting guilt to charges including manslaughter and second-degree assault.
Elijah’s autopsy revealed distressing details: he suffered from “facial and scalp injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment, and pressure ulcers.”
Prosecutors presented text messages exchanged between Dauphinais and Stapf, expressing anger and frustration over Elijah’s behavior. In one message, Dauphinais wrote, “He said he wants food and he wants me to stop starving him because it’s not nice.” Another text said, “I’m gonna kill him and I mean it,” while another admitted, “I hit him with the shower rod, that’s all I did.”
Stapf also sent messages suggesting Dauphinais “fatten him up” by feeding Elijah more.
In 2020, Elijah’s father, Timothy Lewis, had placed him in Dauphinais and Stapf’s care in New Hampshire but grew concerned later that year. He reached out to child services as Elijah’s condition and behavior worsened.
A medical check-up in November 2020 showed Elijah weighed 32 pounds and had visible facial bruises. Dauphinais reportedly claimed Elijah had been sent to California, but this arrangement was never confirmed.
In October 2021, Dauphinais had another child, who was found exposed to drugs, prompting an investigation by child services. She falsely claimed that Elijah was staying with family members, who later disclosed that Dauphinais had asked them to lie about his location.
Prosecutors allege Elijah died in September 2021. Dauphinais and Stapf reportedly buried his body in the park. The pair was arrested in New York, and days after, Elijah’s body was found.
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