CONCORD, N.H. — A New Hampshire woman is facing a sentence of more than 50 years to life in prison for the death of her 5-year-old son, who endured severe abuse, malnutrition, and drug exposure before his body was found in a Massachusetts park in 2021, weighing just 19 pounds. Danielle Dauphinais, 38, is set to appear in court Friday.
Initially scheduled for trial, she pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder and other charges as part of an agreement with prosecutors regarding the death of her son, Elijah Lewis. Dauphinais’ boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, previously pleaded guilty in 2022 to manslaughter, second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, and witness tampering in connection with the boy’s death. He was sentenced to 22 to 45 years in prison.
Top Amazon Deals to Grab This October 2024
Abuse and Neglect Evidence Emerges
An autopsy revealed that Elijah suffered multiple injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment, and pressure ulcers. Prosecutors presented text messages exchanged between Stapf and Dauphinais that expressed hostility toward Elijah and frustration when he failed to meet their behavioral expectations.
In one of the messages, Dauphinais stated, “He said he wants food and he wants me to stop starving him because it’s not nice.” Another read, “I’m gonna kill him, and I mean it,” while another text stated, “I hit him with the shower rod that’s all I did.” Some texts from Stapf to Dauphinais encouraged feeding Elijah to “fatten him up.”
Concerns Raised by Elijah’s Father
Elijah, born in Arizona in 2016, moved to New Hampshire with his mother after his parents divorced in 2017. In 2020, his father, Timothy Lewis, brought Elijah to live with Dauphinais, Stapf, and their 2-year-old daughter in the basement of a home also occupied by Stapf’s mother. By the fall of that year, Lewis expressed concerns to the state Division for Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) about the lack of medical care and developmental challenges Elijah faced in New Hampshire.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed by Lewis in May against Dauphinais, Stapf, Stapf’s mother, and DCYF alleges negligence in protecting Elijah’s welfare. The state DCYF has requested dismissal of the lawsuit, arguing it did not have custody of Elijah. Stapf’s mother’s attorney has not commented on the lawsuit, and no legal representation is listed for Dauphinais or Stapf.
Signs of Abuse Documented
In a November 2020 doctor’s visit, Elijah, weighing 32 pounds, was found with bruises on his face, eye, and arm. Dauphinais later informed DCYF that she had arranged for Elijah to live with her sister in California, but did not follow through with the arrangement, prosecutors said. By October 2021, Dauphinais had given birth to a boy at home.
Stapf brought the infant to a hospital, intending to leave him there. Hospital staff found drugs in the baby’s system, prompting DCYF to open an investigation, but they were unable to locate Elijah. Dauphinais told authorities that Elijah was with various relatives, both of whom later reported that Dauphinais had asked them to lie about his location.
Avoid Home Invasions With These Essential Security Devices
Grim Discovery of Elijah’s Remains
Prosecutors believe Elijah died in September 2021. The couple reportedly placed his body in a container and buried it in a Massachusetts park after Stapf dug a grave. Days after their arrest in New York for child endangerment, authorities discovered Elijah’s remains. At the time of his death, Elijah was just 3 feet tall and weighed 19 pounds, far below the average weight and height for a 5-year-old.
