‘Justice for ‘Boo’ advocates renew focus on open homicide case

5-year-old boy died inside his grandmother’s Laconia apartment on Christmas Eve in 2019.

In the biting cold and early-evening darkness of a true New Hampshire December night, eight figures gathered under the fluorescent, gray-white glow of the street lamp at the intersection of Blueberry Lane and North Main Street in Laconia on Friday.
It was the second of five vigils Lisa Lussier has planned at that spot ​​to call for justice in the homicide case of Dennis “Boo” Vaughan Jr., a 5-year-old boy who died inside his grandmother’s Blueberry Lane apartment on Christmas Eve in 2019. Preceded by months of reports of suspected physical abuse and neglect submitted by teachers, nurses, social workers, law enforcement, neighbors and anonymous sources concerned about the welfare of Dennis and siblings, who had been placed in the custody of their grandmother by the state, his death was determined to be a homicide by blunt force trauma to the head and neck.
Despite the homicide classification, no arrests have been made. In December of last year, facing a three-year statute of limitations, Dennis’ mother Danielle Vaughan filed a lawsuit against the state Division for Children, Youth, and Families, claiming it failed to follow many of its own policies in investigating reports concerning her children and that its negligence in leaving them in the care of her mother led to the death of Boo. Jury selection for that case is set to begin in November of next year.
Many of those holding candles Friday night remember hearing about his death when it happened. Others first learned about it from a “Justice for ‘Boo’” yard sign and Facebook campaign that began in 2022. All of them said they attended the vigil to keep awareness of the lack of resolution in Dennis’ case alive and to show moral support for his mother and siblings.
“This child has had no justice whatsoever,” Lussier said. “And there’s no sign that anyone is trying to consistently prosecute this case.” Investigators made what she called “a miracle” arrest in the death of Harmony Montgomery last year despite not having found her remains, she continued, yet there are no answers for Dennis’ family.
“I can’t comprehend it.”
Ashley Lamontagne was a neighbor of Danielle Vaughan when she lived in Laconia. Despite what seems like a standstill in the investigation, Lamontagne said she hopes that keeping up continuous and vocal advocacy for Boo could bring out new evidence or shake something loose.
Anna Cannard, who started the Facebook page, and her friend Courteney Robison also attended the vigil, as did Judy Anderson, a former DCYF worker who investigated reports of abuse during her career there. Anderson started a GoFundMe campaign for a billboard that would call for “Justice for ‘Boo.’”
It had been almost four years to the day since Dennis’ death, Anderson remarked. She has spent years not only speaking up in the Vaughan case, but contacting state officials to push for DCYF reform.
“My hope is dwindling,” Anderson said. As she spoke, her 3-year-old granddaughter hugged her around the knees and her 18-month-old grandson laughed, playing in the thin layer of snow on the ground.
Another former DCYF worker in attendance, who asked to remain anonymous because of her employment there, similarly emphasized she felt major changes needed to be made at DCYF.
“We were understaffed, overworked and undertrained then,” she said. “Nothing has changed.”
Lussier said, with passing weeks and months, her frustration mounts and her faith in the state — both investigators and DCYF — fades. Dennis’ story, she said, makes her wonder what she should do if there’s ever a child who she thinks is at risk or is being harmed.
“Who would I call?” she said, repeating the question several times. “Who am I supposed to call?”
Despite their frustrations, those at the vigil reiterated their belief that continued advocacy for justice, even if only among a vocal few, will help it actualize.
“If the (Attorney General’s Office) sees eight people standing in the cold, big deal,” Anderson said. “But if it could launch a larger community effort, that could place more pressure on them.”
In a written statement provided to The Daily Sun, Danielle Vaughan said she was grateful for those who continue to keep her son’s memory alive and echo her pleas for action.
“My family and I miss Boo so much and think of him every day, but it is especially hard this time of year,” Vaughan wrote. “With everyone standing behind me, we will never stop fighting for justice for Boo and all the other children that are continuing to be forgotten in the system that is put there to protect them.”
The Attorney General’s Office did not respond to a request for updates in the investigation Monday, but regularly declines to comment on ongoing investigations. Laconia Police Chief Matt Canfield said in an interview that, while he continues to hope for resolution in this case, he had no updates to share.
Lussier will hold a vigil every Friday in December from 6 to 7 p.m., as well as on Christmas Eve.
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