Crews From Around New England Search For Missing Merrimack Boy

MERRIMACK, NH — A wooded area off Camp Sargent Road and Naticook Lake was the location of a significant amount of law enforcement agencies searching for clues in the disappearance of 5-year-old Elijah “Eli” Lewis.

Today's searches mark one week since DCYF notified Merrimack police about the young boy who was missing and removed a 2-year-old from a house at 7 Sunset Drive. Since the investigation began Merrimack police, New Hampshire State Police Major Crime, and the NH Attorney General have worked together on the investigation. Authorities originally said the boy had not been seen by independent individuals for six months.

After investigators gathered additional evidence and conducted interviews, they believe he was seen in the last 30 days.

Law enforcement agencies from across New England including teams from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut used the shoreline of the YWCA as the command post. New Hampshire Marine Patrol boats were launched from Veterans Park and transported several divers around the lake.

Multiple New Hampshire State Police K-9s along with K-9s from other states worked to search wooded areas, shorelines, and the water.

Late in the day divers entered the water in front of the YWCA camp and could be seen in shallow water searching the shoreline. It did not appear that anything was found or removed from the water.

Several people who live on the lake were on the water kayaking, and fishing, and not appearing to be distracted from about 20 members of law enforcement working in the area.

The house at 7 Sunset Drive remains taped off with crime scene tape, and a Merrimack Police officer remains outside the house in a cruiser. A house that appears to be unoccupied on Dawn Ave remains taped off with crime scene tape, however, there is no police presence at the residence.

Residents in the area of 7 Sunset Avenue have previously been told the control of the house would be returned to the owner on Friday, however that has not been confirmed by any officially released information. Neighbors believe Joanne Stapf, the owner of the house, has been living out of the area at an unknown location.

Wednesday Danielle Dauphinais and Joseph Stapf were arraigned on witness tampering, child endangerment charges in the Elijah Lewis missing child case.

ALSO READ:

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• Divers Search Merrimack Lake During Missing Child Investigation
• Authorities Search Merrimack Lake As Part Of Missing Child Case
• Merrimack Police Looking For Child Missing For 6 Months
• Merrimack Police, NH State Police Investigating Incident

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news