Born on June 11, 2014, in Laconia, New Hampshire, Dennis Vaughan Jr. was affectionately called “Boo” by his mother, Danielle Vaughan. From the moment she first held him, she adored the unique birthmark on his head—a small patch of hair standing out against his bright blonde locks. Dennis Vaughan was a lively child, full of energy and joy, with warm brown eyes that lit up every room. Whether he was splashing in the pool or playing in the snow, he radiated adventure and happiness.
A Troubled Family History
Danielle Vaughan’s own childhood was far from ideal. Raised by her mother, Sherry Connor, she endured a home filled with instability and harsh discipline. At just 15 years old, Danielle found herself living with a family friend, Dennis Vaughan, a nearly 50-year-old married man. Despite the significant age gap, their relationship turned romantic, and Danielle soon became pregnant. The two eventually married and had four children together, with Dennis Vaughan being the youngest.
Their marriage, however, was plagued by turmoil. Dennis Sr. was controlling and violent, and both he and Danielle became entangled in drug use. Their struggles led to multiple arrests, and in 2016, law enforcement raided their home. As a result, both parents lost custody of their children.
Danielle’s Fight for Her Children
Determined to rebuild her life, Danielle made significant changes. She quit drugs, followed the court’s requirements, and secured stable housing away from her husband. In 2017, the court granted custody of Dennis Vaughan and his siblings to their maternal grandmother, Sherry Connor. Although Danielle had deep concerns about her mother’s ability to provide a safe home, she hoped things would be different for her children.
Her fears, however, soon became reality. During visits, Danielle noticed alarming signs—her children had bruises, one suffered a concussion, and they seemed underfed. She spotted distinct finger-shaped bruises on their chins, a haunting reminder of her own childhood experiences with Sherry’s harsh discipline.
Christmas in 2018 exposed even more horrors. The home was in deplorable condition—animal and human waste covered the floors, and the children were locked out of the refrigerator and cabinets, forced to drink from the toilet. Desperate to protect them, Danielle made multiple reports to New Hampshire’s Division of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), but her concerns were repeatedly dismissed.
A Mother’s Worst Fears Realized
Danielle’s suspicions were confirmed when she accidentally received a voicemail from Sherry. In the background, she heard the unmistakable sound of a child being struck, followed by one of her sons crying while Sherry screamed, “I hate you, you dirty dog! I can’t wait for someone to take you away.”
The abuse escalated. In July 2019, Sherry took one of her grandsons to a campground, bound him to a chair with duct tape, and abandoned him overnight. Concerned campers alerted authorities, and DCYF removed him from her custody. Yet, shockingly, Dennis Vaughan and his other siblings remained in Sherry’s home.
Danielle pleaded with authorities daily, begging them to remove her remaining children, but her cries for help went unanswered.
A Christmas Eve Tragedy
On the morning of December 24, 2019, emergency responders rushed to Sherry’s home after Dennis Vaughan was found unresponsive. He was taken to Lakes Region General Hospital, but despite medical efforts, the five-year-old was pronounced dead. Authorities immediately considered the circumstances suspicious.
New Hampshire State Police’s Major Crimes Unit launched an investigation, scouring the home for evidence. Neighbors, long troubled by what they had seen and heard, began speaking out.
Ignored Warnings and Community Outcry
Joyce Hendrickson, a next-door neighbor, recalled frequent shouting, loud banging, and disturbing noises coming from the apartment. She knew Sherry was living with multiple children and two dogs, and she had witnessed troubling behavior over time.
Her son, Phil, had also been alarmed. In February, he saw one of the children outside barefoot in the freezing cold. By June, he became so concerned that he recorded a video and submitted a formal complaint to the Laconia police.
Authorities visited the home on June 20 for a juvenile-related incident and returned in August and October following reports about the animals. Yet, despite these red flags, Dennis Vaughan and his siblings remained in Sherry’s care.
A Devastating Christmas Eve Morning
On the morning of December 24, 2019, Phil, a neighbor, stepped outside around 8 AM and noticed Boo’s sister on the phone with 9-1-1. Moments later, Sherry Connor ran out of the apartment in a panic, shouting, “He’s not breathing!”
Paramedics from the Laconia Fire Department arrived quickly, carrying Dennis Vaughan out of the apartment and into an ambulance. The vehicle sped off toward the hospital, but the damage had already been done.
Meanwhile, Boo’s mother, Danielle Vaughan, was at work at Elliott Hospital, starting her early morning cleaning shift. Less than an hour into her workday, a state police sergeant arrived, asking to speak with her privately. The moment she locked eyes with him, she knew something was wrong. Then, in a chilling statement, he told her, “Dennis is dead.”
A Mysterious Autopsy and a Suspicious Guardian
An autopsy was performed on Dennis Vaughan shortly after his passing, but officials withheld the results from the public. The Assistant Attorney General’s office confirmed that the cause and manner of death remained under investigation, pending further forensic studies. However, the extent of Boo’s injuries was severe enough for authorities to take immediate action—his surviving siblings were removed from Sherry’s custody.
Court documents later revealed that Dennis Vaughan’s body showed significant bruising, which played a major role in the decision to revoke Sherry’s guardianship. Additionally, state officials confirmed that Sherry was under active investigation as the primary suspect in Boo’s death.
The Truth Finally Comes Out—But Justice Does Not
Five months after Dennis Vaughan’s death, in May 2020, the Attorney General’s office finally released his cause of death: homicide due to blunt force trauma to his head and neck. The findings painted a horrifying picture of what had happened to the five-year-old, yet no arrests were made. No suspects were publicly identified, and the case seemed to stall indefinitely.
By February 2022—more than two years after Boo’s tragic death—Danielle Vaughan was still desperately seeking justice. In an interview with local media, she expressed her growing frustration, explaining that she had regained custody of her other children but was still receiving no answers from authorities.
With the statute of limitations looming in December 2022, Danielle made a bold move. She filed an 85-page wrongful death lawsuit against New Hampshire’s child services agency, believing it was the only way to hold the state accountable for Boo’s death.
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A System That Ignored the Warnings
The lawsuit exposed a deeply troubling timeline, detailing 27 reports of suspected family violence between 2017 and 2019. These reports came from various professionals, including teachers, nurses, and law enforcement officers—people trained to recognize abuse. Yet, time and time again, authorities failed to act.
One of the earliest reports, filed in August 2017, described a disturbing incident at a campground where Sherry allegedly grabbed Dennis Vaughan by the neck and face, hit him, threw a liquid in his face, and dragged him into a tent. Witnesses, horrified by his screams, feared he needed medical attention. Authorities dismissed the report as “unfounded,” failing to interview the reporting officer or witnesses. Worse still, when child services questioned the children about the allegations, Sherry was present—a blatant violation of protocol.
By early 2018, concerns mounted about Boo’s older brother. Elliott Hospital nurses documented 90 photographs of extensive bruising on his body. That April, Danielle even called the police herself, begging them to check on her children after Sherry refused to let her see them. When officers arrived, they reported that the children looked “happy, healthy, clothed, and just about to eat hamburgers.” The case was closed.
Between September and December 2019—the final months of Boo’s life—nine separate reports were filed regarding his deteriorating condition. Callers described him as vomiting, covered in scabs, and showing bruises on his head, neck, and arms.
A Household of Horror
Witnesses provided terrifying accounts of the abuse Boo and his siblings suffered at the hands of Sherry. According to the lawsuit, she regularly slapped and kicked the children, locked them in a basement with no light or bathroom, and forced them to relieve themselves in a five-gallon bucket. Dennis Vaughan’s sister was reportedly made to sleep in a laundry basket, while Boo and his siblings endured severe punishments, including being forced to run up and down stairs wearing only diapers.
Sherry allegedly tied Dennis Vaughan up with duct tape and confined him to a high chair for extended periods, sometimes overnight. He was often fed expired canned food straight from the can—cold and unheated.
In January 2019, a neighbor made a desperate 9-1-1 call to report the chaos coming from Sherry’s apartment:
“Can I get an officer to 103 Blueberry Lane, Apartment 67? I don’t know if this lady is beating the crap out of her kid. It’s 11 at night, and there’s so much banging. I tried knocking back, but it’s non-stop. All you can hear is her screaming at her kids. I have videos of them outside barefoot for an hour in the winter. It happens all the time. I don’t know if she’s a student of hell or what, but she won’t stop. All you hear are kids screaming. I told her I was reporting her, but you might want to come here for safety. I have proof.”
A System That Turned a Blind Eye
When police responded to a neighbor’s 9-1-1 call about disturbing noises from Sherry Connor’s apartment, they classified it as nothing more than a noise complaint. Sherry explained that she was disciplining one of the children by making him run up and down the stairs ten times for urinating on the wall. The responding officer spoke to the child, who confirmed the story, and then simply advised Sherry to keep the noise down before leaving.
But this was far from an isolated incident.
Reports from school officials painted a grim picture. A school social worker had repeatedly noted that Dennis Vaughan and his siblings frequently arrived at school with bruises. There were also concerns about Sherry’s history of substance abuse and suspected mental health issues. One particularly disturbing report suggested that Sherry believed the boys were influenced by the devil, whom she associated with their father. Convinced she had “found God,” she reportedly sought to rid the boys of their father’s presence through spiritual intervention.
An internal school email detailed growing fears that child services was failing to take these reports seriously. Just nine days later, Dennis Vaughan was dead.
The Ominous Days Leading Up to Boo’s Death
As Christmas approached in 2019, Sherry made an unsettling phone call to Danielle Vaughan. She claimed that Dennis Vaughan had been experiencing hallucinations, refusing to eat or drink. According to Sherry, Boo had ominously told her that he “knew he was going to die” and that the devil was coming for him.
Following Boo’s death on Christmas Eve, a social worker documented Sherry’s bizarre reaction. Instead of expressing grief, she lashed out at law enforcement, screaming that the police “don’t care about kids” and were “ruining Christmas.”
For Danielle, the pain of losing custody of her children had been devastating enough, but knowing they ended up in an even worse situation was unbearable.
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A Community Refuses to Forget
As months passed with no justice for Dennis Vaughan, his memory became a rallying cry in Laconia. Flyers with the message “Don’t forget Dennis” were posted around town. A determined local woman marched into the mayor’s office, holding a photo of Dennis Vaughan, demanding action.
The frustration only grew when it became clear that New Hampshire authorities were not actively seeking public tips about Boo’s case. Unlike three other high-profile child homicide cases that prompted official state reviews, Boo’s murder was ignored. The Laconia Police Department never issued public appeals for information, and the Governor failed to advocate for Boo’s case as he had for other child victims in the state.
One news report referred to Dennis Vaughan as “the five-year-old homicide victim that no one was talking about.” His case began drawing comparisons to another tragic child victim—19-month-old Ayla Reynolds, who vanished in Maine over a decade ago, with her case still unresolved.
Sherry Connor Speaks—But Not to Investigators
By this time, Sherry had moved to Maine and was avoiding investigators. When contacted by the New Hampshire Bulletin, she agreed to speak—but only through Facebook Messenger.
In a series of messages, she admitted that she had spoken to detectives only once and had since refused to cooperate.
“After my interview with the detective, I decided I wasn’t talking to anybody anymore. They were really mean to me. I don’t trust anyone.”
Sherry denied knowing about the 25+ reports of suspected abuse filed against her. Instead, she shifted blame to child services, claiming they had failed to provide her with enough food, financial assistance, or support to care for the children.
When asked about Dennis Vaughan’s cause of death, Sherry attempted to rewrite history. She produced a 2016 medical record—from before she had custody—showing that Boo had been treated for dehydration concerns. She then made the bizarre claim that Dennis Vaughan had a “drinking problem”, saying he would drink from the toilet, the dog’s water bowl, and even soak his pajamas in water to suck on them at night.
Sherry also tried to blame mold in her apartment for Boo’s fatal condition, refusing to acknowledge the bruises and severe injuries found on his body.
When confronted with Dennis Vaughan’s official death certificate, which confirmed homicide due to blunt force trauma, Sherry dismissed the findings. She instead accused a paramedic of accidentally hitting Dennis Vaughan’s head on the door while carrying him out, insisting that he had died of natural causes.
Justice, At Last
Despite Sherry’s denials, the community continued to fight for justice.
In December 2023, four years after Dennis Vaughan’s murder, candlelit vigils were held every Friday in his honor. Supporters gathered, hoping to bring renewed attention to the case and demand accountability.
Then, on Friday, August 16, 2024, justice finally arrived.
The New Hampshire State Police and Laconia Police Department announced the long-awaited arrest of Sherry Connor, age 61.
She was indicted on:
- Manslaughter
- Negligent homicide
- Six counts of first-degree assault
- One count of second-degree assault
- Four counts of witness tampering
While officials did not name the victim, it was clear that Sherry was finally being held accountable for Boo’s death. She was scheduled to appear in court, though the exact date had not been disclosed.
New Details Emerge in Court
During Sherry Connor’s arraignment on Monday, authorities revealed shocking new details about Boo’s final hours. His autopsy showed a staggering 60 contusions and abrasions across his body, including 18 contusions and nine abrasions on his head alone. The medical examiner determined that many of these injuries were fresh, inflicted just hours before his death.
On December 24, 2019, the day Dennis Vaughan died, Sherry allegedly flew into a rage after discovering he had left clothes on the floor. As punishment, she forced him to wear every piece of clothing he hadn’t picked up and made him run in place. When he collapsed from exhaustion, she kicked him and struck him repeatedly in the head and neck with a broom.
The violence escalated. After the broom broke, she stomped on him, then covered him with a blanket and left him unattended for hours.
Even as Dennis Vaughan developed a 104-degree fever, lost control of his bladder, and experienced hallucinations, Sherry still refused to seek medical help. In a tragic moment, Boo mistook a plastic bag for a Christmas present, clinging to any bit of joy he could find. Instead of comforting him, Sherry told him that the devil was coming to take him away.
Hours later, Boo was dead.
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The Unimaginable Torture of Dennis Vaughan’s Siblings
As the investigation continued, Boo’s surviving siblings provided horrifying accounts of life under Sherry’s control. According to the district attorney, the children endured relentless abuse and torture:
- Forced to hold their legs in the air while Sherry stomped on them if they faltered.
- Made to take ice-cold baths as punishment.
- Forced to run naked up and down stairs for hours.
- Hot sauce smeared on their genitals as a form of discipline.
- Heads held underwater and faces smothered with pillows.
- Frequent starvation as a means of control.
A witness revealed that Sherry favored suffocation as a punishment because it left no visible marks.
Even in public, the children could not escape the scars of their suffering. They were always dressed in long sleeves to conceal bruises. But one teacher noticed bruises covering a child’s exposed skin after they removed a sweatshirt—an alarming sign that had been overlooked for far too long.
Sherry’s Defense Pleads for Bail
Despite the overwhelming evidence against her, Sherry’s public defender requested bail, arguing that she:
- Had no prior criminal record.
- Was battling cancer.
- Was worried about her dog, which had been left home alone after her arrest.
The defense also questioned the five-year delay in bringing charges, implying that if Sherry was truly a danger, authorities should have acted sooner.
However, the judge denied her initial bail request, citing the severity of the charges and the risk she posed to others.
A Second Attempt at Freedom
In October 2024, Sherry was granted another bail hearing. This time, she appeared in court tearful and emotional, claiming she had been a law-abiding citizen since Dennis Vaughan’s death.
Her defense emphasized that she had:
- Lived in the community without incident.
- Posed no threat to the public.
- Fully cooperated with law enforcement since the investigation began.
Yet, as of February 2025, no trial date had been set, leaving Dennis Vaughan’s family in limbo as they continued their fight for justice.
A Long Road Ahead
Danielle Vaughan’s wrongful death lawsuit against New Hampshire’s child services agency also remained unresolved, adding to the frustration of those who had fought so hard to hold the system accountable for failing to protect Dennis Vaughan.
For many, Boo’s case symbolizes a catastrophic failure—one that took far too long to acknowledge.
“Don’t Forget Dennis”
As the community awaits justice, supporters continue to keep Boo’s memory alive. His story is a haunting reminder of what happens when abuse is ignored, and why we must never stop fighting for the children who have no voice.
Justice for Boo may still be years away, but one thing remains certain—his story will never be forgotten.
