Search To Continue In Abington For Body Of Missing NH Boy: Update

ABINGTON, MA — Police from Massachusetts and New Hampshire will restart the search for a missing New Hampshire boy at a state park in Abington Saturday.

Benjamin J. Agati, a senior assistant attorney general in New Hampshire, confirmed that law enforcement agencies were looking for Elijah Lewis, 5, of Merrimack, in Abington, at Ames Nowell State Park. He said they were ending the search and would return on Saturday.

During a news brief at the Merrimack Police Department in New Hampshire, he said investigators believe the boy is deceased. Agati did not say why officials had come to that conclusion.

Agati said information came into investigators Thursday and Friday that led them to Massachusetts. He said that information was specific and vetted. Agati said that nothing had been found, at this point, but the operation was only done during daylight.

There are no plans to continue searching for evidence in New Hampshire, Agati said. The search will restart at 8 a.m. on Saturday in Abington with Agati believing the search will be concluded on Saturday.

On Friday, during a news conference in Abington, officials were hoping for the best.

"We're looking for anything we can find — anything regarding that little boy that might be here," said Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz in the conference. "It's still a missing person case until we find the missing person."

Lewis was last seen about a month ago. Lewis' mother, Danielle Dauphinais, 35, and her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, 30, pleaded not guilty in Hillsborough County Superior Court South to charges of witness tampering and child endangerment Wednesday.

According to WCVB-TV, a cellphone found at a pond in Ayer, MA, was one clue that led investigators to Abington.

"The search being conducted in the area of Chestnut Street in Abington based on information learned in the investigation," Agati said. "The search is being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police with assistance from personnel from the New Hampshire State Police Major Crime Unit. The Department of Justice, New Hampshire State Police, and Merrimack Police Department are thankful for the assistance and response of the Massachusetts State Police and the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office."

New Hampshire's Division for Children, Youth and Families received a report on Oct. 14 that Elijah had not been seen. At one point the boy was thought to have been missing for six months, but a missing person's report was never filed, Agati said.

Several law enforcement agencies have worked for more than a week on an investigation surrounding the missing boy.

Thursday divers and underwater recovery teams from all New England states worked to assist New Hampshire State Police, Marine Patrol, and Fish and Game. The teams search Naticook Lake in New Hampshire by boat, kayak, and underwater using specialized equipment.

Agati requested anyone with information about Lewis or the case to contact 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.

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