Law&Crime Sidebar - Mom Who Blamed Evil Spirits for Daughter’s Murder is Locked Up

Episode Date: August 3, 2025

Chelsea Duperon will spend the next several decades in prison for killing her daughter Lyla Cassel. Duperon admitted to beating the 8-year-old, then leaving her to die over several days. Law&Crime’s Jesse Weber recounts the emotional moments when the little girl’s relatives were given an opportunity to speak before Duperon’s sentencing. PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW: If your child, under 21, has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or fatty liver disease, visit https://forthepeople.com/food to start a claim now!HOST:Jesse Weber: https://twitter.com/jessecordweberLAW&CRIME SIDEBAR PRODUCTION:YouTube Management - Bobby SzokeVideo Editing - Michael Deininger, Christina O'Shea & Jay CruzScript Writing & Producing - Savannah Williamson & Juliana BattagliaGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wondery Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of this law and crimes series ad free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 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. I'm just going to keep saving your hope 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 eight-year-old Lila Castle and the mother who failed her. Welcome to Sidebar presented by Law & Crime, I'm Jesse Weber. Hey everybody real quick this is another Law & 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 ultra processed foods to all this? Yeah well Morgan & 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 slash food or scan the QR code on screen to learn more.

Chelsea Duperon, the 30-year-old mother who admitted to beating her 8-year-old daughter to death, stood before a judge on 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, call that came far too late. When police arrived at Duperon's home on Phyllis Street in Wayne, Michigan, they found her little eight-year-old girl,

Lila 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 second-degree 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 Lila had suffered catastrophic trauma to her 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 Lila could have survived if her mother or her mother's live-in boyfriend had called for help, but no one did. So to be clear, the live-in boyfriend has not been named, he hasn't been charged, though police confirmed he was present at the time of this tragedy. Now when Duperon initially spoke to police, she claimed Lila had fallen down the stairs. But that story collapsed under scrutiny. A 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 Lila. But that claim obviously fell through as well. Now, having entered a guilty plea to second degree murder, the mother, who failed Lila, stood before Wayne County Circuit Judge Cherise Anderson to learn her fate. And after recounting the unbearable details of Lila's final days, brutal beating, three

days of agony without medical help, the web of lies that followed, the courtroom heard from someone who loved Lila more than anything, her grandmother, Terri 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 a woman who took it all away. My name is Terri Lynn Castle. I am the grandmother of Lila Lynn Castle, our firstborn grandchild. She was beautiful and innocent and so sweet. She was taken from us not once, but twice and then forever.

Lila was first taken from her father, Joshua Lancastle, my son, by false allegations by her mother, Chelsea Renee Dupont. Those lives costed his parental rights and tore apart our family. For almost five years we were kept from Lila. Cut off from her life, the chance to love and protect her closely. We had to watch her grow up from a far, from Facebook. But through it all, we gave, never gave up faith that one day Lila would grow up and learn the truth.

And that she would return back to us when 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 the peacemaker in every situation. Lila 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 Lila didn't leave this world in peace. She was taken by the very evil that is inside her and her mother, Chelsea Dupont.

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 unimaginable. Unimaginable loss, one that we know all too well. Not just for Lila, 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 do not hold any hate in my heart for what you did, but I do hold righteous for my granddaughter Lila. Justice for the murder of my granddaughter Lila 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 Lila forever, will never have the opportunity to harm another soul.

We are Lila'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. Here with you, please. My name is Lillie Bittupron. I am the great aunt of Lillie Chapel. Hello, I am the great aunt of Lila Castle. You know, we all share deep sorrow and grief over the tragic loss of Lila. 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 going through in those critical days leading up to Lila'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 Lila knew the full extent of your struggles, and he knew that Lila needed medical care, and the person Lila called dad had the chance to make a difference and chose not to.

Regardless of what transpired in his clarity, he was in a position to act and fail both you and Lila. And I am truly sorry for you both. I hold you responsible for your actions and I understand that no one is above it. It's beyond accountability. But I also believe that for the justice, it should not suddenly fall on your shoulders. We are all questioning and hurting on how such tragedy can happen, and we. And it's heartbreaking to think of the life experiences that she lost and the silence that allowed her to suffer. The other adult in that house who knew what was happening and chosen not to act was given a chance to make a difference.

He could have been the hero and yet remains silent. That silence was a coward's choice and it robbed you Chelsea from getting the help you desperately needed and Laila for life. Under Michigan law there are provisions to address situations where child safety and neglects we rely on these systems of accountability to protect children and hold those responsible and accountable. Yet even with these protections, justice remains elusive to all who should be held responsible.

As we mourn Lila and 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. Lila is a bright light and her memory calls on us to be vigilant, compassionate, and committing to doing better. To all of Lila's family and all who loved her, I leave you with her sympathy and hope for justice. Now just just to be clear, and as we mentioned earlier, Chelsea Duperon's live-in boyfriend hasn't been charged, and this is despite being present during Lila'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 Lila 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. When this case came across my desk and I got the phone call on March 16th of 2024, I had no idea 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 Lila 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 am 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. Lila would be 10 years old today. And this was a very thorough investigation. So many people were interviewed, neighbors, family members, people at the school, teachers, counselors, and all described Lyla 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 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 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. Why her mother, who phone records show,

was googling hospitals near me, who absolutely knew Lila needed help, did not take her. That was her mother's responsibility. Why, when Lila'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 getting me help? Why when I can't eat anymore is my mother going to the store and purchasing inshore 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, Ms. Duperon 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 help 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 and we have a sentence agreement. I would ask the court to adopt the sentence agreement in this case. It is slightly above the second degree murder guidelines should the court add also the 15 points which would change the guideline minimum range. It's just slightly over that. but the people believe based on the severity of Lila's

injuries the suffering that she endured the evidence in this case which is compelling that the deviation the upward deviation is appropriate and also to note that Ms. Dupron was facing felony murder and child abuse charges that will be dismissed as a result of the second degree murder plea and that carried life without parole and the people are confident that a conviction would have 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 Duperon'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 an opportunity to speak with Duperon about what happened, behind the crime. 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 Ms. Dupont. I know that she is remorseful for everything she did wrong that day. I too, with my team, my investigator, we spoke to her family, we looked into things, and the same way the prosecutor heard one of the things about Lila, we heard one of the things about Chelsea. We heard that Ms. Dupont was a great mother. I even searched her on Facebook,

that went through her Facebook page. I saw all the pictures she had of her and her daughter. She truly loved her daughter and that is one thing that I'm certain about and I'm also certain that Ms. DPont never intentionally meant to hurt Lila. I think there are multiple things that led to this incident, but it was never intentional. She'd never meant to hurt her. She was not in her right mind, Your Honor,

for lack of better words. The person she is today, the person she was all the years she's been raising Lila, was not the person she was in that the person she was all the years she's been raising Lila was not the person she was in that moment when this incident occurred. Now as far as the aftercare, after the assault, Ms. Dupont again did what she believed was best. She was torn between taking Lila to the hospital, but she did believe that Lila could have been nursed at home and it's without a doubt if she knew the severity of Lila's injuries her internal injuries

Ms. Dupont 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 Duke, who is truly remorseful for, again, her actions and her inaction, Gerona. But this moment, that moment is not a reflection of who she really is and the type of mother that she was to Lila. And again, me and the Duke Brown spoke a lot about this case. And one thing we can agree on is that we know

that she loved Lila and we know that Lila 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 the sentence of the grand jury. 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 Lila, 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. I found that I was having a baby girl. I remember lying in bed holding my belly and asking, what do you think about the name Lila?

Then I felt two little kicks of response. And you're right, then as I cried, I had these tears that my new best friend's name was Lila. On June 27, 2015, I was blessed with the most perfect baby. I grew into the most caring, smart, funny, loving, sweet girl. I was filled with a love I never knew existed. I remember Lila sitting in the kitchen while I cooked dinner and she said, mama, I know why your food is so yummy.

And I said, oh yeah, why's that? And she told me because you make it with love. I was hearing her little sleeping dogs first thing in the morning telling me how much she loves me. Then her daily reminders that I'm the best mom. I could have asked for a more perfect daughter. Boyd 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 but she wasn't. She hopped right on her bike and immediately took off. She was a pro on the first try. I believe, I can't believe it. A lot of people are watching our films when she was a kid. She loved our Kit Kat and our Dockers Cheap Bugs. I don't believe it. I will watch the bar films when mom killed her cat, Kit Kat, in her dog, she loved. But most of all, she loved her family.

Her most deep memories are definitely with cousins, Nana, Papa, Aunt Union, and Mom. I will never understand why this tragedy has become our reality. Such a devastating loss to the most beautiful life, and Rits and Keith's favorite, and hope until we meet again, I will be always and forever. So what happens? Moments after Chelsea Dupron's tearful statement about Lila, 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 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 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 Rite Aid. And get diapers for an eight 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, Lila was certainly in need of going to the hospital and receiving medical attention. Whether Ms. Duperon had to pay for the rest of her life for that medical bill because there was no insurance, certainly,

Lila needed to go to the hospital. When Ms. Duperon knew that she couldn't even lift her, she should have known that she needed to go to the hospital. Lila couldn't even do anything other than to sit up in bed, couldn't get out of the bed, but somehow Ms. Duperon thought that she seemed to be getting better. So instead, as I said, she purchased diapers, baby wipes, and a thermopac 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, not 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 Lila 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 live-in boyfriend who didn't seek to get her medical treatment and she was failed by her mother. But Lila should be remembered as the well behaved, fun loving, innocent, light of the world, bubbly girl that she was. And not for anyth

this court believes that a place where she is lov cared for and where no on the opportunity to fail h sentenced Chelsea Duperon to 28 to 50 years in prison for the horrific killing of Lila 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 podcasts, Spotify, wherever you should get your podcasts. I'm Jesse Weber.

I'll speak to you next time. You can binge all episodes of this long crime series ad free right now on Wondery Plus. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple podcasts or Spotify.