Concord Ledger

New Hampshire authorities found a body they believed was missing 5-year-old Elijah Lewis on Oct. 23 in Abington, Massachusetts.

An autopsy confirmed that the body was the missing child. The town of Abington held a prayer vigil for him.

“Happening Thursday: A candlelight vigil in Abington for Elijah Lewis, the 5-year-old boy whose body was found near Ames Nowell State Park last month,” Mike Saccone, a senior contributor to LiveBoston617, tweeted Nov. 2. “So far no one has been charged with his death, but his mom and her boyfriend are charged in connection with his disappearance.”

New York City authorities said they arrested Danielle Dauphinais, the boy's mother, and Joseph Stapf, Dauphinais’ partner, on Oct. 17 for charges of witness tampering and child endangerment in connection with Lewis, according to the Concord Ledger.

“We are very saddened about this situation — about Elijah's death, about the fact that he was disposed of down here in the woods,” Susan Morrell, senior assistant attorney general for New Hampshire, told NBC10 Boston. “Our sympathies go out to his family and friends of the family and to the community who’s mourning his death, and we do appreciate all of the help from the community.”

The autopsy was performed in Massachusetts to confirm the cause of death and official identification, according to NHPR. The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office said information about the manner and cause of Lewis is pending.

Authorities believe that Dauphinais and Stapf have a connection with his disappearance and have been taken to Hillsborough County Superior Court. They both pleaded not guilty, reported NHPR.

“I think the community is heartbroken,” Nancy Murphy, Merrimack town council member, told The Boston Globe in a phone interview. “What is more important than our children? They are near and dear to us, and our ultimate goal for any child is to protect them. And this child certainly did not get the protection that he should have.”