Remains found in Massachusetts park believed to be Elijah Lewis, investigators say

Elijah Lewis, 5, hadn't been seen for weeks

Elijah Lewis, 5, hadn't been seen for weeks

WMUR'S TIM CALLERY IS IN ABINGTON, MASSACHUTTSES WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT MADE THE DISCOVERY THIS MO RNING. A HEARTBREAKING END TO A WEEK'S LONG SEARCH F OR LITTLE ELIJAH LEWIS. <CLIP:COOPER0054 :17;02- :17;11 "WERE A VERY SADDENED BY ABOUT THIS SITUATION. ABO EUTLIJAH'S DEAT"> H. AUTHORITIES FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MASSACHUSETTS ANNOUNCING SATURDAY AFTERNOON THAT THEY FOUND WHAT TH EY BELIEVE IS THE BODY OF THE 5- YEAR-OLD IN A WOODED AREA IN ABINGTON, MASSACHUTTS. SE <CLIP:COOPER0054 :11;44- :11;52 "STATE POLICE CADAVER DOG AND MSP SPECIAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM LOCATED WHAT'S BIEELVED TO BE ELIJAH LEWIS' BODY BURIED IN THE GROUND> ." ELIJAH WAS LAST SEEN AT HIS HOME IN MERRIMACK IN SEPTEMBER. HE WAS REPTEORD MISSING BY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DIVISION FOR CHILDRE N, YOUTH AND FAMILIES ON OCTOBER 14TH. <CLIP: COOPER0054 :12;27- :13;33 "ON THURSY,DA OUR OFFICE WAS CONTACTED ON CREDIBLE INFORMATION THAT LED TO THIS WOODEDRE AA OFF OF CHESTNUT STREET."> <CLIP:252 :14;37-:145 ;4 "THE SEARCH FOR ELIJAH WAS A MASSIVE EFFORT INVOLVING MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEME NT AGENCIES FROM SEVERAL STATES."> <CLIP:COOPER54 :15;13- :15;18"IT'S A SAD DAY, B UT I'M RELIEVED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADVANCE THE CASE TO THIS POINT."> IJELAH'S MOTHER, 35-YEAR-OLD DANIELLE DAUPHINAIS A HER ND BOYFRIEND, 30- YEAR-OLD JOSEPH STAPF ARE CHARGED WITH CHILD ENDANGERMENT AND WITNESS TAMPERING IN CONNECTION TO ELIJAH'S DISAPPRAEANCE. IT'S UNCLEAR IF THEY WL IL FACE ADDITIONAL CHARGES. <CLIP:251 :09;53-:10;07 "ONCE WE HAVE A DETERMINATION OF CAUSE AND MANNER OF DEATH, WE WILL BE EXAMINING ALL OF OUR FACTS THAT WE HA GVEATHERED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINING WHAT IF ANY CHARGES WILL BE BROUGHT."> AN AUTOPSY WILBE L CONDUCTED ON SUNDAY. AUTHORITIES DID NOT SHARE FURTHER DETAILS ON WHAT THEY FOUN D. AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES...MANY ARE STILL LEFT WONDERING W. HY <CLIP: COOPER0054 :13;20- :19;29 "A LITTLE BOY IS GONE. NO BODY DESERVES TO DIE THIS WAY. WE WILL DO

Remains found in Massachusetts park believed to be Elijah Lewis, investigators say

Elijah Lewis, 5, hadn't been seen for weeks

New Hampshire and Massachusetts investigators said they found remains believed to be a missing Merrimack boy in a 1 p.m. press conference Saturday. A New Hampshire cadaver dog located remains in a grave covered in soil at Ames Nowell State Park in Abington, Massachusetts. An autopsy will be conducted Sunday from the Massachusetts chief medical examiner. The Massachusetts attorney general's office said they are still investigating the remains.Authorities searched the park on Friday for Elijah Lewis, 5. The park search involved officers on foot and on helicopters. Governor Chris Sununu said in a statement "horrific tragedies like this often spur countless hours of dedication by so many.” “On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I would like to thank New Hampshire and Massachusetts law enforcement and everyone else involved for their tireless focus this past week on bringing closure to this search," Sununu said. "May Elijah rest in peace.”New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Susan Morrell said investigators are saddened about "the fact that he was disposed of down here in the woods.""Our sympathies go out to his family and friends of the family and to the community who is mourning his death," Morrell said. New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said Friday night they believe Elijah is dead. "We do have a belief at this time that Elijah is deceased," Agati said.Investigators on Friday were also in Randolph, Massachusetts, which is 15 minutes outside of Abington. They did not say why they were there. Elijah was first reported missing on Oct. 14, and police said he has not been seen for weeks.Elijah's mother, Danielle Dauphinais, 35, and her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, 30, were arrested in New York earlier this week. Both have pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and witness tampering charges. A vigil for Elijah is planned for 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Watson Park in Merrimack.

ABINGTON, Mass. —

New Hampshire and Massachusetts investigators said they found remains believed to be a missing Merrimack boy in a 1 p.m. press conference Saturday.

A New Hampshire cadaver dog located remains in a grave covered in soil at Ames Nowell State Park in Abington, Massachusetts.

An autopsy will be conducted Sunday from the Massachusetts chief medical examiner. The Massachusetts attorney general's office said they are still investigating the remains.

Authorities searched the park on Friday for Elijah Lewis, 5. The park search involved officers on foot and on helicopters.

Governor Chris Sununu said in a statement "horrific tragedies like this often spur countless hours of dedication by so many.”

“On behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I would like to thank New Hampshire and Massachusetts law enforcement and everyone else involved for their tireless focus this past week on bringing closure to this search," Sununu said. "May Elijah rest in peace.”

New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Susan Morrell said investigators are saddened about "the fact that he was disposed of down here in the woods."

"Our sympathies go out to his family and friends of the family and to the community who is mourning his death," Morrell said.

New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said Friday night they believe Elijah is dead.

"We do have a belief at this time that Elijah is deceased," Agati said.

Investigators on Friday were also in Randolph, Massachusetts, which is 15 minutes outside of Abington. They did not say why they were there.

Elijah was first reported missing on Oct. 14, and police said he has not been seen for weeks.

Elijah's mother, Danielle Dauphinais, 35, and her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf, 30, were arrested in New York earlier this week. Both have pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and witness tampering charges.

A vigil for Elijah is planned for 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Watson Park in Merrimack.

Remains found in Massachusetts park believed to be Elijah Lewis, investigators say

Elijah Lewis, 5, hadn't been seen for weeks

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