NH AG: Autopsy confirms 5-year-old boy found in Abington is Elijah Lewis

MERRIMACK, N.H. — A little boy found dead in Abington was remembered Sunday by those in shock over his disappearance and passing.

The gathering comes as the New Hampshire Attorney General confirms that an autopsy has confirmed that remains found over the weekend are Elijah’s.

The 5-year-old was found Saturday in Abington, weeks after he was last seen alive, and after two days of intensive searching in Abington.

The attorney general’s office says confirmation of Elijah’s identity came through dental records.

The cause of death was “not determined.” The New Hampshire Attorney General’s office said it will likely be months before that information is known.

Elijah’s mother Danielle Dauphinias and her boyfriend Joseph Stapf were arrested in New York are charged in connection with Elijah’s disappearance.

Charges against the pair may soon be updated after an autopsy is conducted on the boy.

People touched by Elijah’s gathered in Elijah’s hometown of Merrimack, New Hampshire Sunday evening for a candlelight vigil.

The family tells us the vigil was planned well before the confirmed autopsy results or before Eli’s body was found. Instead of the vigil bringing awareness to Eli’s story, the community held the vigil to bring honor to his life.

“Seeing all the faces and all the candles and the people who came out tonight gave me strength,” said family member and organizer MJ Morrison.

Family, friends, and strangers like Robert Merrill who drove more than an hour to be here all laid down candles and remembered his name.

“He did not deserve to die that way,” said Merrill.

“I want to take a moment to thank the authorities who worked around the clock tirelessly said, Morrison. “We were told Eli was placed in someone else’s care. So when the family found out that he wasn’t, our main goal was to find out who saw Eli these last six months because it wasn’t us. So my goal was to create these flyers and find out if we didn’t see him who did? I think about his silly personality the way he loved to dance, the beautiful brown eyes, and the dimples. He has the same beautiful brown eyes and dimples as his big brother and I wish he was here with us.”

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

©2021 Cox Media Group