Elijah Lewis’ body believed to have been found in state park

Police have discovered remains they believe belong to a five-year-old boy who had been missing for a month, a week after the child’s mother and her boyfriend were arrested in connection with the disappearance in New York City.

Remains believed to be those of Elijah Lewis were found by a cadaver dog in Ames Nowell State Park in Abington, Massachusetts, on Saturday morning, after a search in the park began on Friday, police said.

New Hampshire State Police said that investigators were contacted with ‘credible’ information that led them to search in the area. They said that although the body has not been officially identified, it is consistent with the the 5-year-old’s description.

Massachusetts State Police also assisted in the search.

The search for 5-year-old Elijah Lewis led investigators to Ames Nowell State Park in Abington, where they found remains believed to be those of the boy

Elijah, who had not been for six months, was reported missing by Child Protective Services

Elijah, who had not been for six months, was reported missing by Child Protective Services 

New Hampshire State Police said that investigators were contacted with 'credible' information that led them to search in the area.

New Hampshire State Police said that investigators were contacted with ‘credible’ information that led them to search in the area. 

Authorities are seen at the scene where the body was discovered

Authorities are seen at the scene where the body was discovered

Police said that although the body has not been officially identified, it is consistent with that of the 5-year-old.

Police said that although the body has not been officially identified, it is consistent with that of the 5-year-old.

'This morning state police, cadaver dogs, and emergency response team members located what is presumed to be Elijah Lewis' body buried in the ground. I'm not going to get into the specifics of the crime scene or the manner in which this boy's body was found at this time,' said Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz

‘This morning state police, cadaver dogs, and emergency response team members located what is presumed to be Elijah Lewis’ body buried in the ground. I’m not going to get into the specifics of the crime scene or the manner in which this boy’s body was found at this time,’ said Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz

State and local police had started to search the state park since Friday

State and local police had started to search the state park since Friday 

‘This morning state police, cadaver dogs, and emergency response team members located what is presumed to be Elijah Lewis’ body buried in the ground. I’m not going to get into the specifics of the crime scene or the manner in which this boy’s body was found at this time,’ Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said. 

Elijah’s mother, Danielle Dauphinais, 35, and her boyfriend Joseph Stapf, 30, were arrested in New York City on October 16 after the Department of Children, Youth and Families in Merrimack, where the couple lived, alerted police that Elijah had not been seen in months.

It was later reported that Elijah had been missing for a month. Neither Dauphinais nor Stapf had reported the child missing and told others to lie about their whereabouts, prosecutors said. 

Remains believed to be those of Elijah Lewis were found by a cadaver dog in Ames Nowell State Park in Abington on Saturday morning

Remains believed to be those of Elijah Lewis were found by a cadaver dog in Ames Nowell State Park in Abington on Saturday morning

Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz, during an October 20 press conference in Abington

Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz, during an October 20 press conference in Abington

Danielle Denise Dauphinais, 35

Joseph Stapf, 30

Danielle Denise Dauphinais, 35, and her boyfriend Joseph Stapf, 30, were arrested near Westchester and Bruckner Aves. at approximately 7.15 am on October 16

After being arrested in New York City, Dauphinais and her boyfriend were charged with child endangerment and witness tampering in a Bronx courtroom, before the pair were extradited to their home state.

The couple was escorted by New Hampshire authorities back to the state to face charges in Hillsborough County Superior Court later this week.

Police in Merrimack had been searching the home where Dauphinais and Elijah lived since October 14 for evidence about his disappearance.

‘This is the beginning of the investigation at this point,’ added DA Cruz during a press conference on Saturday. ‘We need to go where the facts take us.’

An autopsy by the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is scheduled for Sunday. Nobody has been arrested in connection to Elijah’s death as of yet. 

Danielle Denise Dauphinais, 35, is pictured in Bronx County Criminal Court before being extradited to New Hampshire in connection with the disappearance of her five-year-old son

Danielle Denise Dauphinais, 35, is pictured in Bronx County Criminal Court before being extradited to New Hampshire in connection with the disappearance of her five-year-old son 

New Hampshire authorities take Joseph Stapf, 30, (pictured in handcuffs) into custody following an extradition hearing at Bronx County Criminal Court on October 16

New Hampshire authorities take Joseph Stapf, 30, (pictured in handcuffs) into custody following an extradition hearing at Bronx County Criminal Court on October 16

An autopsy by the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is scheduled for Sunday. Nobody has been arrested in connection to Elijah's death as of yet

 An autopsy by the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is scheduled for Sunday. Nobody has been arrested in connection to Elijah’s death as of yet

New Hampshire State Police took several items from 4 Sunset Drive in Merrimack, Elijah Lewis's last known home

New Hampshire State Police took several items from 4 Sunset Drive in Merrimack, Elijah Lewis’s last known home

New Hampshire police were seen digging in the home's backyard near a shed on Monday

New Hampshire police were seen digging in the home’s backyard near a shed on Monday

Dauphinais and Stapf were arrested near Westchester Avenue and Bruckner Avenue at approximately 7.15am on October 16, according to the New York Police Department. 

The NYPD would not disclose to DailyMail.com how they became aware that the New Hampshire fugitives were in New York City. 

Knowing that Child Protective Services was searching for the boy, the couple allegedly instructed others to lie about his whereabouts, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office. 

In their arrest warrant, the office alleges that ‘they violated a duty of care, protection or support’ for the five-year-old.  

New Hampshire State Police also executed a search warrant at the mother’s home. 

They took several items from the home, which is currently surrounded with yellow police tape, and police could be seen digging in the home’s backyard near a shed.  

Before they were discovered in New York, authorities in New Hampshire implored the public to help them find the couple and reported that Dauphinais was last seen driving a red 2007 Toyota Tundra with New Hampshire plates JOJOD78. 

Law enforcement said Elijah’s death is being investigated as suspicious and has anyone with information to contact them.  

In Merrimack, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Team (pictured) took several boats of divers to look for the missing boy in Naticook Lake last Sunday

In Merrimack, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Team (pictured) took several boats of divers to look for the missing boy in Naticook Lake last Sunday 

Naticook Lake is adjacent to the home where the boy lived on 7 Sunset Drive

Naticook Lake is adjacent to the home where the boy lived on 7 Sunset Drive

'We're hoping somehow that we are going to go under a rock somewhere and find out that someone has taken him in, maybe there is some sort of mistaken identity that's going on out there or he's been misidentified. But right now, we are fearful that may be the direction we are headed,' New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati had said on Monday

‘We’re hoping somehow that we are going to go under a rock somewhere and find out that someone has taken him in, maybe there is some sort of mistaken identity that’s going on out there or he’s been misidentified. But right now, we are fearful that may be the direction we are headed,’ New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati had said on Monday

Elijah Lewis (pictured), who was last seen six months, was reported missing on October 14. Remains believed to be his were found on Saturday morning

Elijah Lewis (pictured), who was last seen six months, was reported missing on October 14. Remains believed to be his were found on Saturday morning 

Authorities said Danielle Denise Dauphinais (pictured) and Joseph Stapf instructed others to lie about Elijah Lewis's whereabouts

Authorities said Danielle Denise Dauphinais (pictured) and Joseph Stapf instructed others to lie about Elijah Lewis’s whereabouts

'Right now, the goal is to find Elijah and ensure he’s safe,' New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati told WBZ-TV on Saturday before investigators located Dauphinais and Stapf (pictured together)

'Right now, the goal is to find Elijah and ensure he’s safe,' New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati told WBZ-TV on Saturday before investigators located Dauphinais and Stapf (pictured together)

 Danielle Denise Dauphinais and her boyfriend Joseph Stapf were arrested in the Bronx 

Dauphinais and Stapf (pictured together) were arraigned on Monday afternoon in Bronx County Criminal Court. They were then extradited to New Hampshire

Dauphinais and Stapf (pictured together) were arraigned on Monday afternoon in Bronx County Criminal Court. They were then extradited to New Hampshire

An AMBER Alert wasn't issued when the five-year-old was reported missing on October 14. New Hampshire officials said 'Amber Alerts need to be utilized in a proper way. This is one where it's much better for us to get the word out, get photographs out and disseminate the information that way'

An AMBER Alert wasn’t issued when the five-year-old was reported missing on October 14. New Hampshire officials said ‘Amber Alerts need to be utilized in a proper way. This is one where it’s much better for us to get the word out, get photographs out and disseminate the information that way’

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