A mother from Wayne, Michigan was sentenced to 28-50 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder in the death of her 8-year-old daughter.
On March 16, 2024 Wayne police responded to a 911 call at Duperons home and found her 8-year-old daughter, Layla Cassel unresponsive in her bedroom with severe head and neck injuries. Layla was transported to a local area hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after.
During the course of an investigation into the injuries Layla sustained, statements by Chelsea didn’t add up. First, she claimed that Layla fell down the stairs. Then, she claimed that her daughters injuries were due to a “spirit or ghost” or a “mystery woman” who attacked her child in the basement.
Duperon finally admitted to abusing her daughter and causing her injuries. She also told investigators left Layla in bed for days wearing a diaper because Layla was unable to use the bathroom. Duperon told authorities she made several trips to the store to buy diapers, Vaseline, heating pads and liquor while her daughter lay in bed suffering.
Duperon was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
During court proceedings she was given a mental health competency exam, the results of which were not made public, however Duperon would later plead guilty to second-degree murder which means the results of her exam likely found her competent to stand trial.
Judge Charise Anderson sentenced Duperon to a prison sentence of 28 to 50 years on Monday, July 28th.
During sentencing, Anderson described the autopsy photos as “the most horrific photos of an 8-year-old girl I have ever seen,” confirming Lyla was “thoroughly tortured” over multiple days without receiving medical attention.
In court, Duperon gave a tearful statement, calling her daughter “the most perfect baby” and expressing that she “will never understand why this tragedy has become our reality.”