Mother Of 5-Year-Old Boy Found Dead In New England Park Charged With Murder

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office announced Monday on Monday, April 18, that Danielle Dauphinais, age 35, of Merrimack, NH, was indicted on the following charges:

• Murder for purposely causing the death of Elijah Lewis
• Second-degree murder for causing the death of Elijah Lewis recklessly with extreme indifference to the value of human life;
• Three counts of tampering with witnesses.

Police began looking for the Eli and Dauphinais on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, after the state Department of Children, Youth and Families told Merrimack police the child had not been seen in months, said the Attorney's General's Office. 

Dauphinais and her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, were arrested in New York City several days later and charged with witness tampering and child endangerment, the AG's Office said.

After a lengthy search by state police and a host of law enforcement, Eli's body was found on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in the Ames Nowell State Park in Abington, Massachusetts, a town about 30 minutes southeast of Boston, the AG's office said.

The chief medical examiner of Massachusetts ruled the death a homicide, according to a press release by Attorney General John M. Formella.

“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,” Formella said.

This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates. 

Click here to follow Daily Voice Amherst and receive free news updates.