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This weekend, the #1 Boston College men’s hockey team continues their quest for the #1 seed in the NCAA tournament when they face #17 UNH in a home-and-home series. BC are winners of 6-straight games and 11 of their last 12, well-positioned to take the top spot nationally. New Hampshire, meanwhile, will be fighting extremely hard for wins this weekend so that they can boost their profile and find a way into the NCAAs.
Read our full preview of this series and all of our in-depth BC hockey coverage here.
Who: #17 New Hampshire Wildcats (17-12-1) vs #1 Boston College Eagles (25-5-1)
Where: Whittemore Center, Durham, NH
When: Friday March 1st
Puck Drop Time: 7pm ET
How to Watch: Tonight’s game will be streamed on ESPN+
Live Stats: Live stats will be available here.
How to Follow: Follow the game on X (Twitter) by checking in with our live coverage at @bcinterruption
Where: Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA
When: Sunday March 3rd
Puck Drop Time: 5pm ET
How to Watch: Sunday’s game will be streamed on ESPN+
Live Stats: Live stats will be available here.
How to Follow: Follow the game on X (Twitter) by checking in with our live coverage at @bcinterruption
Crime
Campus police at the University of New Hampshire are investigating two recent sexual assault cases, the department said in a statement.
The first alleged incident, a sexual assault, happened between Sept. 20 at 10:30 p.m. and Sept. 21 at 3 a.m. in the suspect’s dorm building on campus, the statement said. Police said the victim believes the suspect may have drugged their drink. The victim and the suspect were known to each other, police said.
The second reported incident happened Sept. 19, police said. Another victim said the same suspect may have drugged them as well, the report said. Police did not say if the second victim was assaulted.
University Police said Wednesday that they had identified a person of interest in the case, but will not share any further information “to protect the integrity of the investigation” and protect those impacted by the incidents.
“Survivors are never responsible for the offenders’ behavior,” the statement said.
While the investigation is underway, UNH police reminded students to stay safe, trust their instincts, call a safety escort on campus, and utilize campus resources if necessary.
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A New Hampshire mother on Thursday pleaded guilty to murder in the 2021 death of her five-year-old son, Elijah Lewis.
Danielle Dauphinais of Merrimack appeared in Hillsborough County Superior Court on Thursday morning, shackled and wearing an orange jumpsuit. She pleaded guilty to second degree murder and two counts witness tampering in the death of her young son.
“Elijah was assaulted, starved, isolated, and neglected. He was tortured,” a prosecutor said.
The state said Elijah died between Sept. 21, 2021 and Sept. 24, 2021.
The boy was found face down in the fetal position in a shallow hole at Ames Nowell State Park in Abington.
According to prosecutors, had this case gone to trial, Dr. Richard Atkinson, who was at the burial site and conducted Elijah’s autopsy, would have said, “Elijah died as a result of violence and neglect including facial and scalp injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment, and pressure ulcers.”
“I am sick to my stomach and I can’t believe what I heard today. That’s not the person I knew,” MJ Morrison, Elijah’s aunt, said after Thursday’s court hearing.
Dauphinais was indicted by a grand jury on murder charges in connection with her son’s death in April 2022. Dauphinais and her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, were originally charged with witness tampering and child endangerment. Both remain in prison.
Prosecutors said Thursday that the investigation into Elijah’s whereabouts began after Dauphinais gave birth to a baby boy and Stapf dropped the child off at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester.
The Division of Children, Youth, and Families began questioning Dauphinais about where Elijah was.
Prosecutors said she told them “Elijah was gone” and then said he was living with her sister Tracy in California. Her sister later told the social worker and investigators that Dauphinais asked her to lie and say Elijah was with her in California, but she refused.
According to cell phone records, Dauphinais was confronted again by DCYF workers, at which point she told them she sent Elijah to her brother’s house in Texas.
Her brother, Bruce, told DCYF workers he had custody of Elijah since September, not knowing it was more than a wellness check, but couldn’t provide any information on him like where he went to school. He was told to call them back but never did.
DCYF then went to Merrimack Police to report Elijah as missing.
Text messages between Dauphinais and Stapf revealed she was depriving the child of nourishment, prosecutors said in court.
“I gave him a small bowl of cereal so he would shut the **** up. But that wasn’t enough. He said he wants food and wants me to stop starving him because it’s not nice,” read one message.
“I’m gonna kill this kid joe, ****ing screaming at the top of his lungs ****ing water,” said another from Dauphinais to Stapf.
Prosecutors outlined how and when the couple buried Elijah.
Merrimack Police tracked the couple’s cell phones, finding that the pair traveled through Boston to Abington, 14 hours after investigators started asking questions.
Prosecutors said Stapf buried Elijah’s body and put a white birch tree over his grave. Then, the couple drove to Mohegan Sun, had a bite to eat, went to a country music concert and boarded a bus to New York City.
The two were arrested at a subway station in the Bronx.
Cristee Chasse went to the courthouse on Thursday wearing a shirt that read, ‘Justice for Elijah.’
“Absolutely disgusting, disgusting. And that could have been prevented. A lot of this, according to what happened today and what I heard, happened after the fact, that he went to the doctors and bruising was seen,” said Chasse.
Prosecutors also said that Elijah weighed 32 pounds at his last and only doctor’s visit with his mother, and weighed 19 pounds when his body was found in the state park.
“I’m just hoping she gets the absolute maximum. That’s what Elijah deserves,” added Morrison.
Dauphinais is expected to be sentenced on Oct. 25.
She could face between 58 years to life in prison.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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New Hampshire has historically been known as a battleground state. While that may change this year, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go out and make your vote count.
Election Day is less than two months away, and, with former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris going head to head on Nov. 5 and other major electoral races in New Hampshire that day, many feel they must vote this year.
This can be difficult, as you can only vote in person on Election Day in New Hampshire, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures website. There is still same-day voter registration in the state, so you don’t necessarily need to worry about that if you forgot to register before Nov. 5.
More: N.H.’s other major electoral race Pappas vs. Prescott: NH congressman has ‘least Trumpiest’ challenger yet in 2024
No, New Hampshire does not offer in-person early voting.
Residents can still cast a vote with an absentee ballot if you expect yourself unable to make it to the polls on Election Day for specific reasons, according to the Laconia government website.
“The reasons include being absent from the voter’s city or town, a religious observance, disability or illness, and employment commitments (including caregiving) during the entire time the polls are open,” the website says. “Absentee ballots may also be available when a weather emergency impacts an election.”
Apply for an absentee ballot here and the deadline to send in your mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. on Election Day.
Residents can register to vote on Election Day at your polling place or at your local clerk’s office up to 6-13 days before the election. Check your town/city website or call your clerk’s office for specific details.
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.
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