Mother of Elijah Lewis indicted in son's October death

Danielle Dauphinais (AGs Office) and Elijah Lewis (Courtesy)

CONCORD - The mother of a missing Merrimack boy found buried in Massachusetts woods in October has been indicted on multiple charges in connection with his death, the Attorney Generals Office reported on Monday.
A Hillsborough County Grand Jury returned indictments on Friday charging Danielle Dauphinais, 35, with one count of first degree murder for purposely causing the death of 5-year-old Elijah Lewis; one count of second degree murder for causing his death recklessly with extreme indifference to the value of human life; and three counts of tampering with witnesses.
Dauphinais continues to be held without bail. An arraignment will be scheduled in Hillsborough County Superior Court - Southern District in Nashua.
Elijah, found dead and buried in the woods of Abington, Mass., died of malnourishment and fentanyl intoxication among other injuries, the Massachusetts chief medical examiner determined.
The New Hampshire Attorney Generals Office also released a statement in November detailing the findings, including that Elijah also suffered from pressure ulcers, facial, scalp and head trauma; violence and neglect.
Elijah's unknown whereabouts were brought to the attention of authorities by DCYF on Oct. 14. The Merrimack Police Department immediately began an investigation, and was assisted later that day by the New Hampshire State Police and the New Hampshire Department of Justice.
Authorities first searched for Elijah's body in and around his Merrimack residence and a nearby pond before investigators developed information that led them to Massachusetts.
A search was conducted in the area of Chestnut Street in Abington where his body was found on Oct. 23.