Thurston County jury finds Lacey man guilty of murdering toddler in 2022
A jury found a 35-year-old Lacey man guilty of second-degree murder last week for the death of a toddler in 2022.
Eric Richard Boudreau learned of the verdict on Nov. 13 in Thurston County Superior Court.
The jury delivered the verdict following a lengthy trial that ended three years and two days after the 13-month-old child in Boudreau’s care died from blunt force injuries to the head. Prosecutors alleged Boudreau severely abused the child while babysitting him at a shared home on the 9000 block of Campus Glen Drive Northeast in Lacey.
“The jury’s verdict reflects the seriousness of these crimes and the profound harm inflicted on an extremely vulnerable child,” reads a statement from the office of Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim. “Our office remains committed to seeking justice for victims and holding offenders accountable, especially in cases involving the abuse of children who rely entirely on adults for their safety and care.”
In addition to second-degree murder, the jury found Boudreau guilty of second-degree assault of a child and third-degree assault of a child.
The jury also responded yes to several aggravating circumstances pertaining to the child’s vulnerability and excessive injuries as well as Boudreau’s position of trust.
Lacey police arrested Boudreau about four months after the child died. At the time of the child’s death, Boudreau was dating the child’s mother and they were living in a home with two other adults.
Boudreau was tasked with watching over the child during the Veterans Day holiday, according to court records.
In interviews with police, he claimed he fell asleep with the child during the day and woke up to him missing. He said he found the child injured at the bottom of the stairs.
However, first responders noted that the child appeared to have injuries that were not consistent with simply falling down the stairs.
“There wasn’t a square inch of his body that didn’t have a bruise,” an unnamed paramedic was quoted as saying in court records.
Another reportedly said this was the worst injuries they’ve seen on a child that wasn’t involved in a car wreck.
First responders transported the child to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia but he later died at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Court records indicate the child suffered skull fractures, brain hemorrhages, cerebral contusions and laceration of the frenulum. The child also had at least 25 scalp, facial and lip abrasions and contusions.
Additionally, the child suffered petechia and hemorrhages in the eyes, cervical spinal nerve root hemorrhages, spinal cord hemorrhages, eight torso contusions and at least 82 contusions on his extremities.
Dr. Nicole Yard with the King County Medical Examiner’s Office compiled this list of injuries following a Nov. 15, 2022, autopsy.
Yard ultimately ruled the child’s manner of death was homicide.
Several items in the home were stained with what appeared to be blood as well.
Washington State Patrol Forensic Scientist Marion Clark concluded the blood contained a DNA profile that “had very strong support for the inclusion of (the child) as a contributor to the DNA profile mixture,” according to court records.
In a closing presentation, defense attorney Kevin Griffin said Boudreau cared for the child a great deal. Though Boudreau was at fault for what happened to the child, Griffin said his client did not commit murder because he did not intentionally hurt the child.
The jury also had the option to find Boudreau guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter.
On that front, Griffin said Boudreau’s negligence did meet the definition of criminal negligence, a key component of the manslaughter charge.
Boudreau has been in custody without bail since March 2023. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 12.
