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Mother of Elijah Lewis, 5-Year-Old Found Dead in Massachusetts Park, Pleads Guilty to His Murder

Danielle Dauphinais, a 38-year-old mother from New Hampshire, pleaded guilty on Thursday to second-degree murder and two counts of witness tampering in the tragic death of her 5-year-old son, Elijah Lewis. The plea agreement, filed earlier this week, could see her facing up to 55 years in prison for her role in the heartbreaking case that shocked the community.

Elijah was reported missing in October 2021, and his remains were later discovered in a Massachusetts park. An autopsy revealed the extent of his suffering, showing that the young boy endured multiple injuries, including facial and scalp trauma, malnutrition, pressure ulcers, and acute fentanyl intoxication.

Dauphinais’ boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, had previously pleaded guilty in 2022 to charges of manslaughter, second-degree assault, falsifying evidence, and witness tampering in connection with Elijah’s death. Stapf was sentenced to 22 to 45 years in prison, with prosecutors portraying the couple’s treatment of Elijah as a horrific case of child abuse and neglect, describing it as “child torture.”

The details of Elijah’s life in the care of Dauphinais and Stapf were grim. Prosecutors said that Elijah was starved, physically abused, and neglected over a prolonged period. Text messages between Stapf and Dauphinais revealed their hostility toward the boy, who was described as a burden in their lives. Tragically, Elijah’s suffering ended when he died under their care.

Once child welfare workers began investigating Elijah’s disappearance, Dauphinais and Stapf took extreme measures to conceal his death. According to prosecutors, they placed his body in a container and transported it to Ames Nowell State Park in Abington, Massachusetts. There, Stapf dug a hole, and together, they buried the child’s remains in a remote area of the park, told CBS News.

When Elijah’s body was eventually recovered, authorities noted his severely undernourished condition. At the time of his death, Elijah stood just 3 feet tall and weighed only 19 pounds, shockingly below the average height and weight for a 5-year-old, which is closer to 3.6 feet tall and 40 pounds.

Before Elijah’s body was found, Dauphinais and Stapf were arrested in New York on charges of witness tampering and child endangerment. Just days after their arrest, the tragic discovery of Elijah’s remains put an end to the desperate search for the missing boy.

During Thursday’s court proceedings, prosecutors revealed additional details about Dauphinais’ efforts to deceive authorities. They alleged that she went to great lengths to mislead Division of Youth and Family Services workers, lying about Elijah’s well-being and whereabouts. Dauphinais reportedly reached out to her own brother and sister, urging them to lie about having Elijah in their care in an attempt to avoid suspicion.

Dauphinais was initially indicted in 2022 on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and witness tampering. Although she initially pleaded not guilty, Dauphinais has since changed her plea to guilty. She now faces a lengthy sentence, with 55 years for the second-degree murder charge and up to seven years for each count of witness tampering.

A sentencing hearing will be held soon to determine her final punishment. This tragic case has left the community grappling with the senseless loss of a young life and highlighted the vulnerabilities of children in abusive environments.