Maine — A 37-year-old father is facing a manslaughter charge and three counts of child endangerment following the death of his 13-month-old daughter, who died of hypothermia inside the family’s home during a freezing Maine winter.

Shane McLaughlin was arrested Wednesday, nearly 10 months after his daughter, Eleanora Ray McLaughlin, was found dead on December 28, 2025. According to Maine State Police, the investigation involved an autopsy and a review of the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death.

Authorities said Eleanora’s cause of death was hypothermia, while the manner of death was determined to be accidental. The criminal charges focus on the circumstances surrounding the incident and the alleged failure to protect the children.

Maine Father Faces Manslaughter and Child Endangerment Charges

According to a press release from the Maine State Police, McLaughlin was taken into custody following a monthslong investigation conducted by the agency’s Major Crimes Unit.

He faces one count of manslaughter and three counts of child endangerment in connection with his daughter’s death.

The investigation included an autopsy conducted by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in April 2026. The medical examiner determined that Eleanora died from hypothermia.

The three child endangerment counts reportedly involve the circumstances surrounding Eleanora’s death and the alleged risk to the other children in the household.

According to Reports, which cited the indictment, McLaughlin is accused of recklessly endangering Eleanora and two other children by violating a duty of care or protection.

What Happened Inside the Maine Home?

Eleanora lived with her twin sister and her 3-year-old brother at her father’s home when she died.

In a December 2025 interview with WCSH, McLaughlin confirmed that he was the only adult inside the home on the night his daughter died.

He told the television station that Eleanora was sleeping in his bedroom alongside her siblings. McLaughlin also described discovering his daughter the following morning while attempting to wake her.

“I grabbed a package of Pop-Tarts, opened it up, and I went to wake up Eleanora, and that’s when I found her dead,” he said.

He also discussed the heating conditions inside the bedroom during the interview.

“I was using an electric space heater in my bedroom between the girls’ bed. The door was open because one of the animals came into the bedroom, and I could see my breath.”

His comments provided a glimpse into the conditions inside the home during the winter night, although investigators’ findings and the criminal allegations remain central to the case.

Lawmakers Raised Concerns About Living Conditions

The circumstances surrounding Eleanora’s death also attracted attention from local lawmakers.

One Maine state senator reportedly contacted the state’s Department of Health and Human Services about the conditions in which the children were living.

According to the reported letter, Eleanora was found dead “while living in a home alongside her siblings with no heat and no running water in the middle of a Maine winter.”

The reported lack of heating and running water raised concerns about the children’s living environment and the circumstances leading up to the toddler’s death.

The three child endangerment charges also extend beyond Eleanora, involving allegations related to the two other children who were reportedly living in the home.

Mother Previously Expressed Anger Over Lack of Charges

Eleanora’s mother, Erika Dupuis, had previously spoken publicly about her daughter’s death.

In an interview with WCSH, Dupuis said she was “angry and upset” that McLaughlin had not been charged in connection with the incident.

The couple was estranged at the time of Eleanora’s death. Dupuis had reportedly moved from Maine to West Virginia during the summer before the December 2025 incident.

Her earlier comments came while the investigation was still ongoing and before McLaughlin’s arrest.

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The arrest now marks a significant development in the case, which had remained under investigation for several months following the toddler’s death.

Father Held on $250,000 Bond

Following his arrest, McLaughlin was booked into the Penobscot County Jail.

He is being held on $250,000 bond and was scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Friday. The charges follow the findings of the medical examiner and the investigation conducted by Maine State Police.

Although the medical examiner classified Eleanora’s death as accidental, prosecutors are pursuing criminal charges based on the alleged circumstances surrounding her death and the care provided to the children.

The case remains a serious child endangerment investigation, with the allegations against McLaughlin to be addressed through the court process.

What are your thoughts on this case and the importance of safe living conditions for young children during extreme winter weather? Share your views in the comments below.