Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Divers were back in the water Tuesday at Naticook Lake, as the search for clues into the missing 5-year-old Merrimack boy continues. (Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS)

MERRIMACK — Danielle Dauphinais and Joseph Stapf, Merrimack residents who were arrested over the weekend in The Bronx, New York, then extradited back to New Hampshire, are scheduled to be arraigned today in Hillsborough County Superior Court South in Nashua.

The two were wanted on felony charges connected to the investigation of 5-year-old Elijah “Eli” Lewis, whom investigators, based on new information, say was last seen about a month ago at or near 7 Sunset Drive, a residence on the shore of Naticook Lake.

As previously reported, Elijah’s unknown whereabouts were brought to the attention of authorities by DCYF last Thursday.

The Merrimack Police Department immediately began an investigation and was assisted later that day by the New Hampshire State Police and representatives of the state Attorney General’s office.

Elijah was never reported missing to authorities until Thursday.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS A man several sources identified as Joseph Stapf, 30, is tended to by police and paramedics after an ambulance was called to Merrimack police headquarters Tuesday afternoon for a medical emergency. (Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS)

Dauphinais, 35, Elijah’s mother, and Joseph Stapf, 30, her companion, arrived in New Hampshire and were brought to Merrimack police headquarters for booking.

Their arraignments are scheduled for 11 a.m. today. Court officials said the proceedings will take place via WebEx.

Just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, Merrimack Fire Rescue was dispatched for a medical call in the booking area of Merrimack police headquarters.

On their arrival, firefighters and medics entered the building, and a short time later brought out a man on a stretcher and put him into a waiting ambulance.

A Merrimack officer entered the ambulance with the medics. The ambulance was followed by a lieutenant with the State Police Major Crime Unit and a Merrimack officer.

Courtesy photo A photo of Elijah "Eli" Lewis, the 5-year-old Merrimack boy who was last seen about a month ago at or near 7 Sunset Drive in Merrimack. (Courtesy photo)

The man was identified by several sources as Joseph Stapf, but Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said he could not confirm those reports.

Meanwhile, several agencies worked throughout Tuesday in the area of Sunset Drive. State police, and Fish and Game personnel used K9s to search a large wooded area near a YWCA Camp on Camp Sargent Road. K9 Officers also worked in the woods at the end of Ingham Road.

Fish And Game divers searched several areas of Naticook Lake by boat, and a Fish and Game Conservation officer used a kayak to search several areas of shoreline on Naticook Lake and around Blueberry Island.

The State Police Major Crime Unit truck and investigators returned later Tuesday, and removed several items from the residence and placed in the truck.

Dawn Avene and parts of Sunset Drive continue to be cordoned off with crime scene tape, and Merrimack police officers have provided around-the-clock scene security. Residents in the area were being escorted to and from their houses by police officers.

As investigators worked at the scene several people from the neighborhood came to see what was going on, and share theories of what they believed happened. Several news crews from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine were in the area gathering video and interviewing residents.

Anyone with information on Elijah’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Merrimack Police Department’s Crimeline at 424-2424 or State Police Communications at 223-4381 or 603-MCU-TIPS (603-628-8477).

Lead Investigator Detective Sergeant Kelly Healey, Major Crime Unit, can be contacted directly at Kelly.A.Healey@dos.nh.gov.

–JEFFREY HASTINGS

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