Mother refused to feed her 5-year-old son and said she wanted him “gone” before he was found bleeding from the head and then buried his body with the help of her boyfriend; reaches plea agreement

New Hampshire – In a disturbing case out of New Hampshire, a 38-year-old woman, identified as D. Dauphinais, is set to plead guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her 5-year-old son. Originally charged with first-degree murder, Dauphinais is accepting a plea deal for the lesser charge of second-degree murder (knowing), as well as two counts of tampering with a witness. Under the terms of the plea agreement, she faces 55 years to life in prison for the homicide charge and an additional three-and-a-half to seven years for the tampering charges.

The charges stem from a disturbing pattern of abuse and neglect that culminated in the boy’s death. Investigators found that the boy had been subjected to severe abuse, malnourishment, and exposure to fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. Authorities reported that the 5-year-old died from violence and neglect, including facial and scalp injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, and malnourishment.

In October 2021, authorities launched a ten-day search for the boy after concerns arose about his well-being. Dauphinais and her 33-year-old boyfriend, identified as J. Stapf, were arrested in New York City on October 17, 2021, as part of the investigation into the boy’s disappearance. Six days later, on October 23, his remains were discovered in a shallow grave at a state park in Massachusetts. It was determined that he had been deceased for about a month, with his death occurring between September 21 and September 24, 2021.

Prosecutors uncovered text messages that revealed a chilling narrative of abuse. Dauphinais and Stapf discussed withholding food from her son and subjecting him to physical harm. In one exchange, Stapf urged Dauphinais to feed the child and let him sleep so he would appear healthier and they could take him out in public. Dauphinais refused, indicating a deliberate neglect of her son’s basic needs.

Further messages showed that Stapf once threw his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son onto a bed, causing him to hit his head. He pleaded with Dauphinais to stop what he referred to as “torture,” but she declined. Eventually, Stapf found the boy bleeding from the head in a bathtub. Despite the severity of his injuries, they failed to seek medical assistance. The 5-year-old died shortly thereafter.

In an attempt to cover up their actions, Dauphinais enlisted Stapf’s help in disposing of the body. They transported her son in a pickup truck to a wooded area, where they buried him in a shallow grave. The discovery of his body led to a formal determination of the cause of death, highlighting the extent of the abuse and neglect he suffered.

Dauphinais is scheduled for a plea hearing, where she will officially enter her guilty plea to the charges. While the Department of Justice has not commented on the specifics of the plea deal, it has been confirmed that she will face significant prison time. The combined sentences for the murder and tampering charges mean she could spend the rest of her life behind bars.

Her boyfriend, Stapf, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to charges of manslaughter, second-degree assault, falsifying physical evidence, and tampering with a witness. He was sentenced to 22 to 45 years in prison for his role in the boy’s death. During his sentencing, the boy’s father, T. Lewis, expressed his anguish and anger: “You are less than human. You could have stepped up to stop this at any point if you had been man enough. You could have brought him back to us at any point.”

Further investigations revealed that Dauphinais harbored deep resentment toward her son. According to reports, she sent messages to a friend comparing her son to notorious serial killers. “I call him the next Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer,” she wrote months before his death. “It’s so sad, but I have no connection with this child. His father took him at the age of one and never returned him until last May 2020. He’s been getting worse and worse. I want him gone. I can’t handle it anymore.”

The 5-year-old boy’s death has prompted widespread outrage and a call for better protection of vulnerable children. There is a growing concern about how such severe abuse could go unnoticed and unaddressed by authorities. The case highlights the critical importance of reporting and investigating signs of child abuse and neglect. It also underscores the need for communities to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the welfare of children.