Mom Who Blamed Evil Spirits for Daughter’s Murder is Locked Up

It feels like just yesterday I found out. I was having a baby girl. I will never. understand why this tragedy has become. our reality. Such a devastating loss to. the most beautiful life. Rest in peace, baby girl. Until we meet again, I love. you always and forever. >> It was a tearful tribute to a daughter. she called perfect. But just moments. later, Chelsea Duperon was sentenced to. decades in prison for the brutal murder. of that same little girl. I'm going to. be breaking down every horrific detail. in the tragic case of 8-year-old Laya.

Castle and the mother who failed her. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and. Crime. I'm Jesse Weber. Hey everybody, real quick. This is. another Law and Crime legal alert. Did. you know that children are being. diagnosed with serious conditions like. type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty. liver disease? And the research is. potentially linking ultrarocessed foods. to all this. Yeah. Well, Morgan and. Morgan is stepping in to fight to hold.

these food companies accountable. With. decades of experience fighting large. corporations, they are ready to stand up. for the families who deserve justice. So, if your child under 21 has been. diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or fatty. liver disease, then visit. www.forthepeople.com/food. or scan the QR code on screen to learn. more. Chelsea Duperon, the 30-year-old mother. who admitted to beating her. eight-year-old daughter to death, stood. before a judge in July 28th to face the.

consequences of what is truly an. unthinkable crime. And even the judge, who was hardened by years on the bench, said she had never seen more horrific. photos of a child in her life. Prosecutors called it unfathomable. The horror began with a 911 call in. March of 2024. A call that came far too. late. When police arrived at Duperon's. home on Phyllis Street in Wayne, Michigan, they found her little. 8-year-old girl, Llaya Castle,

unresponsive in bed. Her small body was. covered in such devastating injuries. that she was nearly unrecognizable. And the truth that followed was even. more disturbing. a trail of deception, ignored red flags, and the unthinkable. reality that her own mother, the person. meant to protect her, had pleaded guilty. to seconddegree murder. On March 16th, 2024, police responded to reports of a.

child not breathing. And what they. discovered was worse than they ever. could have anticipated because Laya had. suffered catastrophic trauma head and. neck. and through emergency crews. And. though emergency crews rushed her to the. hospital, she was pronounced dead. shortly after arrival. Within days, Duperon was arrested and charged with. felony murder and first-degree child. abuse. And what prosecutors alleged was. just beyond the pale. They argued that. Duperon viciously beat her daughter.

three days earlier on March 13th and. then let her suffer in agony for the. remaining days without medical care. And. instead of calling 911, Duperon went. shopping for diapers and Vaseline and. heating pads and even liquor. All while. her daughter lay there in agony dying. for three whole days. Medical experts. later confirmed what's hardest to. accept, that Laya could have survived if. her mother or her mother's living. boyfriend had called for help, but no.

one did. So, to be clear, the living. boyfriend has not been named. He hasn't. been charged, though police confirmed he. was present at the time of this tragedy. Now, when Dubon initially spoke to. police, she claimed Laya had fallen down. the stairs. But that story collapsed. under scrutiny. Medical examiner found. there were no injuries consistent with a. fall. And then came an even more bizarre. twist that Duperon reportedly told. police that quote, "Bad spirits were. involved and claimed a mysterious woman.

had attacked Laya." But that claim. obviously fell through as well. Now, having entered a guilty plea to. seconddegree murder, the mother, who. failed Laya, stood before Wayne County. Circuit Judge Shereice Anderson to learn. her fate. And after recounting the. unbearable details of Laya's final days, the brutal beating, three days of agony. without medical help, the web of lies. that followed, the courtroom heard from. someone who loved Laya more than.

anything, her grandmother, Terry Castle. And what she shared wasn't just a. statement of grief. It was a eulogy for. a stolen child, a plea for justice, and. a confrontation with the woman who took. it all away. My name is Terry Lyn. Castle. I am the grandmother of Llaya. Lyn Castle, our firstborn grandchild.

She was a beautiful and innocent. and so sweet. She was taken from us not once. but twice. and then forever. Laya was first taken from her father. Joshua Lim Castle my son. by false allegations. by her mother Chelsea Renee Dupon.

Those lives cost him his parental rights. and tore apart our family. For almost five years, we were kept from. Laya. Cut off from her life, the chance to love and protect her. closely. We had to watch her grow up from afar. from Facebook. But through it all, we.

gave never gave up faith. that one day Laya would grow up and. learn the truth. and that she would return back to us. and we could finally tell her. how she was always loved. how hard we fought for her. and how we deeply missed her.

and that she had a little brother who. now will never know, his big sister. Never know how kind and loving she was, how she always wore a smile, and she was peacemaker in every. situation. Laya would never hurt or harm anyone.

She was always so helpful and eager to. lend a hand to anybody who needed it. And that was just her spirit. She was just a beautiful soul. But Laya didn't leave this world in. peace. She was taken by the very evil that is. inside her mother, Chelsea Dupram. Her lies now fully revealed.

not only devastated our family. But in her selfishness, she also tore apart hers as well. Her own mother, her own father, her sister, her aunt, her nieces, her. nephews. By murdering my granddaughter,

Chelsea destroyed our world. All of her relatives that I named are. now grieved and unimmanageable. unimaginable. loss. One that we know all too well. Not just for Laya, but for Chelsea as. they once knew her.

How unimaginable, how unbearable to lose. not one but two members of your family. so close. One to a brutal, unimaginable death and. the other one to the darkness that. caused it. Chelsea, I don't. I do not hold any hate in my heart for. you for what you did. But. I do hold righteous anger.

and a deep unshakable need for justice. for my grandfather Lra. Justice for the murder of my. granddaughter Laya by the hands of her. own mother, Chelsea Renee Dupron.

The Bible says an eye for an eye, but since Michigan does not have a death. penalty, I ask that justice be served in the. strongest way the law allows. I ask you, your honor, by the authority and power you have. to make sure that Chelsea Renee Dupron, who silenced Laya forever,

will never have the opportunity to harm. another soul. We are Laya's voice now. We will carry. her love, her light, her memory, and our hearts for the rest. of our lives. >> But the courtroom also heard from. another voice, Chelsea Duperon's aunt, Elizabeth Duperon. And her message. carried a devastating weight. It was one.

that not only condemned Chelsea's. actions, but she also condemned those of. her boyfriend, who she says did nothing. to stop this horror. >> Bear with me, please. Um, my name is Elizabeth. I am the great of. Lily Gospel. Um, you know, we all share a deep sorrow. and grief over the tragic loss of Laya.

And there's nothing I can say to ease. the pain of her absence to any of the. family members. Chelsea, I want you to know that I love. you. and I know that you are truly remorseful. for what has happened. We wish we would have known more about. what was gone through in those critical. days leading up to Ila's passing.

We would have been there for you, ready. to help you in any way we could have. The other adult that lived in the same. home as you and Laya. knew the full extent of your struggles. And he knew that Laya needed medical. care. And the person Laya called Dad had the. chance to make a difference and chose. not to.

Regardless of what transpired, it is. clear he was in a position to act and. failed both you and my love. And I am. truly sorry for you both. I hold you responsible for your actions. and I understand that no one is above. the um is beyond accountability. But I also believe that burden of. justice should not solely fall on your. shoulders.

We are all questioning. and hurting. on how such tragedy could happen. And we all share responsibility in some. way. Laya deserved a safe, loving, and long. life filled with laughter, hope, and. potential. And it's heartbreaking to. think of the life experiences she lost. and the silence that allowed her to. suffer.

the other adult in that house who knew. what was happening and chose not to act. and was given a chance to make a. difference. He could have been the hero. and yet remained silent. That silence. was a coward's choice. and it robbed you, Chelsea, from getting. the help you desperately needed and Ila. for life. Under Michigan law, there are provisions. to address situations where child safety. and neglect. We rely on these systems of.

accountability to protect children and. hold those responsible accountable. Yet even with these protections, justice. remains elusive to all who should be. held responsible. As we mourn Laya, we grieve this. profound loss. I hope we can find some. measure of healing and promise to ensure. no other child suffers in the same way. Laya is a bright light and her memory. calls on us to be vigilant, compassionate in committing to doing.

better. To all of Laya's family and all who. loved her, I leave you with heartfelt. sympathy and hope for justice. >> Now, just to be clear, and as we. mentioned earlier, Chelsea Dubberon's. living boyfriend hasn't been charged, and this is despite being present during. Laya's final days. But prosecutors. during sentencing, they left no doubt. While others may have failed this little. girl, it was Duperon who made the. choices that ultimately sealed her fate.

In their final argument, they walked the. court through every damning detail. The. hospital searches that never led to. help, the diapers bought instead of 911. calls, the medical proof that Laya could. have survived if her mother had just. chosen to save her. Here's the. prosecution's case for why the defendant. alone bears the weight of this crime. >> Thank you, your honor. Um, I uh when this case came across my desk.

and I got the phone call on March 16th. of 2024, I had no idea. what what I was about to see. And the. court used a term that I used at the. beginning of this case at the. arraignment, unimaginable. What Laya. endured that day and endured the days. following was unimaginable. She didn't look. like the happy child that everybody.

remembers. She was unrecognizable. And one reason I'm glad that. accountability was taken is that she. doesn't have to be seen in this open. court and remembered that way and that. she can rest in peace with the dignity. that she deserves. Laya would be 10 years old today. And. this was a very thorough investigation. So many people were interviewed, neighbors, family members, um people at.

the school, teachers, counselors, and. all described Laya. in the same way that she was sweet, bubbly, smart, loving, goofy, funny. Those were just a. few words that popped into my mind that. I remember people using to describe her. And it was clear to me that this.

tender-aged 8-year-old girl left her. mark on so many people in her short. life. And I think about that day and I think. about how scared she must have been that. the person she loved most in this world. was brutally attacking her. And then when she was injured. and as her.

she laid on the kitchen floor, how. scared she must have been and how. confused she must have been as to why. her mother was not giving her help, giving her help. Why her mother, who. phone records show was googling. hospitals near me, who absolutely knew. Laya needed help, did not take her. That. was her mother's responsibility. Why? when Laya's brain was swelling and. she could no longer use the bathroom was.

confused as to why is my mother putting. me in diapers instead of giving me help. Why when I can't eat anymore is my. mother going to the store and purchasing. insure instead of taking me to get help. No one can truly imagine what she went. through in those days judge and she did. not deserve that. At the end of the day, Miss Duperan. chose herself over her daughter.

That's just the truth. She didn't want. to get in trouble. She knew CPS would be. coming around and she thought that she. could maybe. mend her back to health on her own, but. it was clear from the medical evidence. that she needed immediate help and she. could have been saved on that first day. This is a sad case. This is a tragic. case. It is. one that I will never forget. We did.

reach a resolution in this matter. Um. and we have a sentence agreement. I. would ask the court to adopt the. sentence agreement in this case. Um it. is slightly above the seconddegree. murder guidelines. Should the court um. add also the 15 points um which would. change the guideline minimum range. It's. just slightly over that. But the people. believe based on the severity of Laya's. injuries, the suffering that she. endured, um the evidence in this case,

which is compelling, um that the. deviation, the upward deviation is. appropriate. And also to note that Miss. Dupbron was facing uh felony murder and. child abuse charges that will be. dismissed as a result of the. seconddegree murder plea and that. carried life without parole and the. people are confident that a conviction. would have uh came following a jury. trial. So we would ask the court to. adopt that sentence agreement and thank. you your honor. So, after prosecutors. laid out again just this damning.

timeline of neglect and violence, Chelsea Dubberon's defense attorney. offered a starkly different portrait, not of a monster, but of a grieving. mother who they say wasn't in her right. mind. Here's the emotional appeal that. asked the judge to see the person behind. the crime. Your honor, I've had. opportunity to speak with Miss Duperon. about what happened. And frankly, I'm. probably the only person who's really. spoken to her in depth about what.

occurred that day. And I know what the. court seen. I know what madam prosecutor. sees. I know what she saw in the police. report as well as body cam videos and. everything that came out of this. But. what the prosecutor or this court has. not seen is the other side of Miss. Dubron. I know that she is remorseful. for everything she did wrong that day. I. too, well, my team, my investigator, we. spoke to her family. We looked into. things and the same way the prosecutor.

heard wonderful things about Laya, we. heard wonderful things about Chelsea. We. heard that Miss Dukron was a great. mother. I even searched her on Facebook. and I went through her Facebook page. I. saw all the pictures she had of her her. daughter. She truly loved her daughter. and that is one thing that I'm certain. about. And I'm also certain that Miss. Dupont never intentionally meant to hurt. Laya. I think there were multiple things. at play that led to this incident, but.

it was never intentional. She never. meant to hurt her. She was not in her. right mind, your honor, for lack of. better words. she the person she is. today, the person she was all the years. she's been raising Laya was not the. person she was in that moment when this. incident occurred. Now, as far as the. after care after um after the assault, Miss Dupont again did what she believed. was best. She was torn between taking. Laya to the hospital, but she did.

believe that Laya could have been nursed. at home. And it's without a doubt if she. knew the severity of Laya's injuries, her internal injuries, Miss Dupram would. have taken her to the hospital. Without. a doubt, she never wanted this to. happen. And again, this is a woman who stands before. She's. truly remorseful for again her actions. and her inactions, your honor. But this. moment, that moment is not a reflection.

of who she really is and the type of. mother that she was to Laya. And again, me and Miss Dupbron spoke a lot about. this case. And one thing we can agree on. is that we know that she loved Yla. And. we know that Laya knows and knew that. her mother loved her and that her mother. would never intentionally hurt her. And with that being said, your honor, we. are asking that you adopt um the. sentence agreement. Now, before. sentencing was handed down, Chelsea. Duperon herself was given the. opportunity to address the court. And in.

an emotional statement, she spoke about. her memories of Laya, from choosing her. daughter's name to teaching her to ride. a bike. And here's what she told the. judge in that statement again moments. before learning her sentence. >> It feels like just yesterday I found out. I was having a baby girl. I remember lying in bed holding my belly. and asking, "What do you think about the. name Laya?" Then I felt two little kicks. in response. I knew right then as I. cried happy tears that my new best.

friend's name was Laya. On June 27th, 2015, I was blessed with the most perfect baby. and grown to the most caring, smart, funny, loving, sweet girl. It was filled. with a love I never knew existed. I remember Yla sitting in the kitchen. while I cooked dinner and she said, "Mama, I know why your food is so. yummy." I said, "Oh yeah, why is that?". And she told me, "Because you make it. with love." I was hearing her little. sleepy voice first thing in the morning.

telling me how much she loves me and her. daily reminders that I'm the best mom. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect. daughter who was so pure and so sweet, always so happy and loving. She never. failed to amaze me. I'll never forget when we decided it was. time to take off her training wheels. I. was so nervous that she wasn't. She. hopped right on her bike and immediately.

took off. She was a pro. on the first try. I believe I couldn't believe it. I loved. watching Garfield and Spongebob. She. loved our cat Kit Kat and our dog. But most of all, she loved her family. since. our most favorite memories were. definitely with cousins, Nana, Papa, and. Yun and Bugs. I will never understand. why this tragedy has become our reality.

Such a devastating loss to the most. beautiful life. Rest in peace, baby. Until we meet again, I love you always. and forever. >> So, what happens moments after Chelsea. Duperon's tearful statement about Laya, her perfect daughter, Judge Anderson. addressed her? The same judge who called. the autopsy photos the worst that she'd. ever seen, now had to reconcile two. basically irreconcilable truths. the. mother who spoke of bedtime stories and.

training wheels and the one who left her. child to die. Here's how she answered. The court has had an opportunity to. review the contents of the pre-sentence. investigation report through motions. that have been filed with in this case. from the prior attorney. I've had the opportunity to see the most. horrific. photos of an eight-year-old girl I have.

ever seen in my entire life. She had. significant swelling, bruising. from the crown of her head to the soles. of her feet and everything in between. multiple wounds to her face, to her. head, bruising, certainly something more than being than. falling down the stairs. She was brutally attacked.

by the individual that was supposed to. love her, to nurture her, to care for. her, to protect her, and to guard her. against. any and everything. But instead, the way in which she chose to guard her, protect her is to go to write aid. and get diapers for an 8-year-old.

because she couldn't afford to get out. of bed to use the restroom. Court even read that. she was going to take her to the. hospital, was going to take her to the. hospital because her insurance was back. on. Whether she had insurance or not, Laya was certainly in need. of going to the hospital and receiving.

medical attention. Whether Miss Duperon had to pay for the. rest of her life for that medical bill. because there was no insurance. Certainly. Laya needed to go to the hospital. When. Miss Duperon knew that she couldn't even. lift her, she should have known that she needed to. go to the hospital. Laya couldn't even do anything other. than to sit up in bed, couldn't get out.

of the bed, but somehow Miss Duperon. thought that she seemed to be getting. better. So instead, as I said, she purchased. diapers, baby wipes, and a ThermaPack. wrap. and meal replacement shakes. Then you have the boyfriend, aka the. stepfather, who indicated that if it was his blood. child, he would have called the cops.

But since it wasn't my problem, I don't. know what to do. What he should have done is to pick up. the phone and call 911. Better yet, grab Laya up in his arms, get in the. first thing smoking, and get to the. hospital. That's what he should have. done. But he checked on her and went to work.

When reading the family members letters. and listening to what was said today, they certainly took the words out of my. mouth in terms of the notes that I had. because the ongoing theme in my notes is. that she was failed. on multiple occasions. She was failed by the Livian boyfriend.

who didn't seek to get her medical. treatment. And she was failed by her mother. But Laya should be remembered. as the well- behaved, funloving, innocent, light of the world, bubbly girl that she. was.

and not. for anything else. And so this court believes that Laya is. now in a place where she is loved for, where she is cared for, and where no one. else will have the opportunity to fail. her. >> Judge Anderson sentenced Chelsea Duperon. to 28 to 50 years in prison for the. horrific killing of Laya Castle. more on.

this case. For the full trial coverage, if you're interested, you can head on. over to our Long Crime YouTube channel. But that's all we have for you right now. here on Sidebar. Everybody, thank you so. much for joining us. And as always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple. Podcast, Spotify, wherever you get your. podcasts. I'm Jesse Weber. I'll speak to. you next time. [Music].