Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz says based on information from New Hampshire police, they’re investigating a wooded area along Chestnut Street in Abington.
Cruz says this is related to the search of five-year-old Elijah Lewis.
“Investigators and police from New Hampshire, New York, and Massachusetts State Police, and three counties here in Massachusetts – Norfolk County, Middlesex County, and Plymouth County – they have been working tirelessly around the clock to locate this little boy, in conjunction with all these other efforts,” said Cruz. “As part of this investigation last night, State Police assigned to our office were notified that information had been developed to lead us to this search of this wooded area on Chestnut Street in Abington. Based upon information that was corroborated by investigators, there may be evidence related to the disappearance of Elijah Lewis. That’s why we’re here, that’s what we’re searching for, that’s what we continue to look for.”
State Police Colonel Chris Mason says numerous assets are being utilized in the area.
“We will be here until all leads have been followed up, and until we’re sure that we follow up on all the leads that have been directed to us from the New Hampshire investigators,” said Mason. “We currently have a number of assets that are deployed. Among them, our Airwing, K9, the DA indicated our Special Emergency Response Team is in the wood conducting a gridline search for any items of interest that may assist in investigators.”
Cruz says they are continuing to treat this as a missing person case.
The State Police Airwing flies above Chestnut Street in Abington. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
State Police Colonel Chris Mason, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz, and Abington Police Chief David Del Papa provide an update in Abington. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
Elijah’s mother Danielle Dauphinais and her boyfriend Joseph Stapf were arrested in New York and charged with witness tampering and child endangerment. Both are now being held without bail.
