Lapeer Woman Sentenced To Life For Medical Neglect

In a case which was appealed all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court, Elizabeth DuBois was convicted in the cancer death of her son and just was sentenced to life in prison:

https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2026/03/mother-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-murder-in-sons-2019-cancer-death.html

Mother sentenced to life in prison for murder in son’s 2019 cancer death
By Dylan Goetz | March 24, 2026

LAPEER, MI – Elizabeth DuBois, a 43-year-old convicted in the 2019 death of her son Austin Raymond, is to spend the rest of her life in prison.

She was found guilty of murder and first-degree child abuse after a seven-day trial before Judge Michael J. Nolan on Jan. 23.

Nolan on Monday, March 23, sentenced DuBois to life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to court documents.

DuBois was accused of neglecting to seek medical treatment for her son despite his pleas. Raymond originally testified against his mother at a preliminary examination in the case.

When he was 15 years old, Raymond said he noticed something was wrong with his throat in July 2016. The symptoms continued to get worse, and eventually he had trouble eating and speaking, according to his testimony.

By November, Raymond couldn’t eat solid foods. He continued to ask for medical attention, but he testified that DuBois said he “was fine,” according to his testimony.

Raymond weighed just 86 pounds near the end of 2016. Child Protective Services began investigating around that time.

A CPS investigator told DuBois to take her son to get medical treatment. Instead, Raymond’s stepfather did. A physician told them to follow up with a specialist about possible polyps.

Family members later took Raymond to a local hospital, and he was referred to the University of Michigan Hospital, where he was diagnosed with chordoma, a form of cancer, according to his testimony.

Raymond eventually died from complications from his cancer just after the child abuse case was bound over to circuit court for trial. He was 19.

After an appeal with the Michigan Supreme Court, Lapeer County prosecutors had a felony murder charge added to DuBois’ case.

Raymond enjoyed fishing, hunting, and watching baseball, according to his obituary.