Mom Of NH Boy, Found Dead In MA Park, Indicted On Murder Charges

CONCORD, NH — The mother of a New Hampshire boy, found dead in a Massachusetts park in October 2021, has been indicted on murder and other charges.

A Hillsborough County Superior Court South grand jury has indicted Danielle Dauphinais, 35, of Merrimack, NH, on one count of first-degree murder for purposely causing the death of Elijah Lewis, 5; one count of second-degree murder for causing the death of Elijah Lewis recklessly with extreme indifference to the value of human life; and three counts of tampering with witnesses.

Lewis was found in the Nowell State Park in Abington, MA, in October 2021.

The case started a few weeks before when state and local police were sent to a home on Sunset Drive in Merrimack for a major crime unit investigation.

Officials were vague about what and why they were searching the area, but later, officials said the state Division of Children, Youth, and Families were searching for information about a boy who had not been seen in about six months. Officials searched Naticook Lake while searching for Dauphinais and her boyfriend, Joseph Stapf.

Dauphinais and Stapf were found in New York and arrested.

While officials continued to search around the lake, others around the region began to assist in an attempt to find Lewis. Quite by accident, a tip led them to Nowell State Park in Abington, MA. A cellphone was found at a pond in Ayer, MA, during the investigation. After the cellphone was turned in to the police, it was found to be connected to the case. Investigators believed, at that point, that Lewis was no longer alive.

A body was found later in the park and was identified as Lewis.

Dauphinais is being held without bail. She was originally arrested on child endangerment and witness tampering charges. An arraignment will be scheduled at a future date in superior court.

Stapf, 30, was also arrested on child endangerment and witness tampering charges.

Anyone who may have any info about this case is asked to contact the 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).

Editor's note: This post was derived from information supplied by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the removal request process for New Hampshire Patch police reports.

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