Mother Pleads Guilty to Murdering Son

Danielle Dauphinais, the mother of 5-year-old Elijah Lewis, has pled guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of witness tampering in connection with her son's 2021 death, facing a sentence of 55 years to life. Prosecutors described how Elijah was subjected to severe abuse, neglect, and malnutrition, resulting in his emaciated body being discovered in a shallow grave in Massachusetts after he was reported missing for nine days. Dauphinais will serve additional time of three and a half to seven years for the witness tampering charges, which involve her attempts to manipulate testimony. Her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, who was also implicated in the case, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is serving a 22 to 45-year sentence. The plea agreement avoids a trial and the possibility of a life sentence without parole, although it still represents a significant prison term. The case has drawn attention due to its tragic circumstances, highlighting issues of child welfare and domestic abuse.