Charlotte was killed in horrific circumstances. Her boyfriend’s reaction will haunt her family forever

Charlotte Dodd, a beloved mum-of-two, was killed by Matthew DuPlessis after a day out in Blackpool

A man who admitted causing the death of his then girlfriend by careless driving has been jailed, but her family claim they still don’t know the full truth.

Police said Matthew DuPlessis, 35, ‘concocted’ a story to ‘cover up that he was responsible’ for the death of mum-of-two Charlotte Dodd, also 35.

He claimed she had been dancing in the road after they had a night out and was struck by a dark-coloured vehicle in a hit and run smash. DuPlessis was initially treated as a witness and allowed to leave the scene on Padgbury Lane, Congleton, Cheshire, on September 23, 2023.

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But an officer from a serious collision unit who attended the scene later recognised his name and that he drove a small white van like one found parked nearby.

Police went on to arrest him on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing a roadside drug screening test. DuPlessis pleaded guilty in 2024 to driving with excess cocaine in his body and was banned for three years, but the investigation into Charlotte’s death continued.

Police said it emerged DuPlessis and Charlotte had been to Blackpool during the day, but neighbours heard them arguing that night. They left at 1.30am and drove around Congleton in DuPlessis’ van as they continued to argue.

In a statement, Cheshire Police said: “It was then, on Padgbury Lane, that Charlotte left the van as it was still moving. Charlotte struck the carriageway and was fatally injured.”

DuPlessis, from Richard Darrock Way in Crewe, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday (August 28) to be sentenced after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving whilst unfit through drugs and perverting the course of justice at an earlier hearing. He was jailed for nine years and three months.

Det Chief Insp Dave Hutcheon, of the Major 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 having been out drinking and that Charlotte was dancing in the carriageway.

“He said that when his back was turned to wee in a bush, a dark coloured vehicle struck Charlotte and fled the scene. We launched a fail to stop investigation at the scene, and the defendant was treated as a witness and later allowed to leave with his parents.

“It hasn’t been determined how Charlotte came to leave the van. The defendant overshot the junction causing him to perform an emergency stop. He then reversed and parked his van on Arnside Avenue and went to Charlotte. He then concocted his story to cover up that he was responsible for her death.

“His lies were caught out by the roads policing officer and the detailed forensic analysis of his movements led to him having no option but to plead guilty.

“His actions tragically led to Charlotte’s death and changed her family’s life forever. Our hearts go out to them as they navigate the rest of their lives trying to cope with the devastating loss of someone they loved very much.”

Following the sentencing hearing, Charlotte’s family said: “Today marks the end of a three-year journey through a police investigation and legal process that has changed our family lives forever. Throughout this period, we have quietly lived through the turmoil, the uncertainty and the heartbreak surrounding the circumstances of Charlotte’s death.

“We have each carried an indescribable pain of losing our daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and friend, whilst also watching her two young girls try to come to terms with losing their mummy. Due to the lies and deception by one person from the very beginning, thereby 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 some questions that remain unanswered, and we will have to live with those questions for the rest of our lives.”