By Staff Report
CONCORD – An autopsy completed on the remains of Elijah Lewis, age 5 of Merrimack, shows he was the victim of a homicide, according to a news release from Attorney General John Formella.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Massachusetts determined the cause of Elijah’s death was violence and neglect, including facial and scalp injuries, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment and pressure ulcers.
Elijah’s mother, Danielle Denise Dauphinais, 35, and her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, 30, remain held without bail on charges of Witness Tampering and Child Endangerment.
Elijah was reporting missing after being brought to the attention of authorities by the Division for Children, Youth and Families on Oct. 14.
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.
On Oct. 23, law enforcement located Elizah’s a body in Abington, Mass., buried in a wooded area off Chestnut Street.
The investigation into Elijah’s death remains active and on-going. Authorities asked anyone with information about Elijah’s death 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.