A New Hampshire mother, Danielle Dauphinais, fervently denied any wrongdoing during an interrogation on October 18, 2021, the day after her arrest, claiming that she and her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, did not harm her 5-year-old son, Elijah Lewis. Dauphinais responded angrily to law enforcement’s questioning, stating, “We did not hurt that fing little boy and I do not appreciate you saying that we did.” Despite her denial, Dauphinais ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and other charges related to the case, while Stapf pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
The case began when Dauphinais and Stapf were arrested in a Bronx subway station in New York after Elijah had been reported missing. Several days later, Elijah’s body was found in a park in Abington, Massachusetts. At the time of her interrogation, Dauphinais insisted she had no idea what had happened to her son, even agreeing when investigators suggested that Elijah was likely dead. However, prosecutors presented evidence, including text messages, revealing that she and Stapf had discussed mistreating the child and neglecting to feed him.
In the text messages, Dauphinais had vented to a friend about Elijah’s behavior, even comparing him to notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. Despite the chilling nature of these comparisons, loved ones of Elijah described him as a vibrant and joyful child with a “zest for life.” The judge in the case acknowledged the young boy’s lively spirit, which made his death all the more tragic.
Further investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse. Dauphinais and Stapf had reportedly not fed Elijah for several days. Stapf had attempted to persuade Dauphinais to feed him and let him rest, hoping that Elijah would appear healthier before they took him out. Eventually, Stapf found Elijah in a bathtub, naked and bleeding from a head injury. The child had died sometime between September 21 and 24, 2021, according to authorities.
After Elijah’s death, Dauphinais and Stapf took steps to conceal their crime. The two drove a pickup truck to Abington, where they buried Elijah’s body in a shallow grave, attempting to cover up their actions. Despite their attempts to hide the evidence, their texts and other forensic evidence led to their arrest.
Dauphinais was sentenced to a prison term of 53 and a half years to life after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of witness tampering. Meanwhile, Stapf was sentenced to up to 45 years behind bars for his role in Elijah’s death and the subsequent cover-up.
In the face of overwhelming evidence, Dauphinais’s earlier claims of innocence were ultimately disproven, as both she and Stapf were held accountable for the tragic and senseless loss of Elijah Lewis. Their cruel treatment of the young child, combined with their efforts to conceal the truth, highlighted the devastating nature of the crime and the profound loss of a life full of potential.Mother Who Denied Hurting Son Pleads Guilty to Murder After Child’s Body Found in Shallow GraveMother Who Denied Hurting Son Pleads Guilty to Murder After Child’s Body Found in Shallow Grave
