A man has been jailed for causing the death of his girlfriend after claiming she was hit by a car.
Matthew DuPlessis was sentenced to nine years and three months after admitting causing death by careless driving while incapacitated by drugs and perverting the course of justice.
Neighbors heard the 35-year-old and his girlfriend, Charlotte Dodd, also 35, arguing at her home on September 23, 2023, Chester Crown Court heard.
The next day at 1:30 am the couple left in his van. Mrs Dodd later fell from the moving vehicle and was fatally injured as she drove onto the road in Congleton, Cheshire, police said.
A passerby stopped his car when he saw her in the road with DuPlessis behind her on a grass verge.
DuPlessis, from Crewe, insisted he and his girlfriend were walking after a drinking session and a dark-coloured vehicle struck her and fled.
However, a police officer recognized DuPlessis’ name and knew he was driving a white van similar to the one parked at the scene.
In 2024, the suspect admitted to driving with too much cocaine and was banned from driving for three years. But the investigation into Mrs Dodd’s death continued.
Matthew DuPlessis who is in prison for causing his girlfriend’s death after initially lying and saying she had been hit by a hit-and-run
DuPlessis admitted to police that she repeatedly threatened to jump out of the vehicle, but she did not do so.
He refused to say how she planned to leave the van, police said, but CCTV footage along Padgbury Lane showed the driver’s door closed with an interior light on, indicating the passenger door was open.
DuPlessis told police that Ms. Dodd opened the passenger door when she tried to get out, police said.
The video showed the van traveling another 195 meters at an average speed of 30 km/h.
Forensic analysis revealed that the van was above the center line of the carriageway when the defendant turned left onto Arnside Avenue and Ms Dodd exited the vehicle at that intersection.
After the sentencing, Ms Dodd’s family said in a statement that they had “calmly endured the turmoil, uncertainty and heartbreak surrounding the circumstances of Charlotte’s death.”
“We have all borne indescribable pain from the loss of our daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and friend, while also watching her two young girls try to come to terms with the loss of their mother,” they said.
“It has taken so long for a hearing on the Crown Court ruling to be held,” the statement continued.
“Due to one person’s lies and deception from the very beginning, perverting the course of justice, we still do not know the full truth of what really happened to Charlotte.
‘There are no witnesses. There are a number of questions that remain unanswered, and we will have to live with those questions for the rest of our lives.
“Justice has now been served, but we do not believe this reflects the enormity of what has been lost and the devastation caused by Charlotte’s death.
“Charlotte didn’t get to live her best life because one person senselessly took her life and stole her future.
“For us, no custodial sentence or punishment will ever be enough.”
It’s not known how 35-year-old Charlotte Dodd died, but her family said no punishment for DuPlessis ‘will ever be enough’
DCI Dave Hutcheon, of the large investigation team, said: ‘DuPlessis told multiple witnesses at the scene, including his own parents, members of the public, paramedics and police at the scene, that he and Charlotte were walking along Padgbury Lane after drinking and that Charlotte was dancing on the roadway.’
The officer said DuPlessis told people that a dark-colored vehicle had struck his girlfriend and fled the scene with his back turned.
He added: “We started an investigation on the spot which could not be stopped, and the suspect was treated as a witness and later allowed to leave with his parents.
‘It has not yet been determined how Charlotte left the van.
‘The suspect drove past the intersection, which forced him to perform an emergency stop.
“He then reversed, parked his van on Arnside Avenue and headed to Charlotte.
‘He then made up his story to cover up the fact that he was responsible for her death.
‘His lies were discovered by the traffic police officer and the detailed forensic analysis of his movements led to him having no choice but to plead guilty.’
