5-year-old boy found dead in Massachusetts died from violence, neglect, drug intoxication

Attorney General John M. Formella, New Hampshire State Police Colonel Nathan A. Noyes, and Merrimack Police Chief Brian K. Levesque have announced the results of the autopsy completed on the remains of 5-year-old Elijah Lewis.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Massachusetts has determined that the manner of Elijah’s death was homicide. The cause of Elijah’s death was determined to be violence and neglect, including facial and scalp injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment and pressure ulcers.

The human remains of Lewis were discovered buried in the ground in a wooded area in Abington, Massachusetts.

Elijah’s mother, Danielle Denise Dauphinais, age 35, and her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, age 30, remain held without bail on charges of Witness Tampering and Child Endangerment.

As previously reported, Elijah’s unknown whereabouts were brought to the attention of authorities by DCYF on Thursday, October 14, 2021. The Merrimack Police Department immediately began an investigation, and was assisted later that day by the New Hampshire State Police and the New Hampshire Department of Justice. Elijah had not been reported missing to authorities prior to this time.

The investigation into Elijah’s death remains active and on-going. Anyone with information about Elijah’s death is asked to contact the Merrimack Police Department’s Crimeline at (603) 424-2424 or New Hampshire State Police Communications at (603) 223-4381 or 603-MCU-TIPS (603-628-8477). Lead Investigator Detective Sergeant Kelly Healey, Major Crime Unit, can be contacted directly at Kelly.A.Healey@dos.nh.gov.