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Mother Of Missing Boy Elijah Lewis, Boyfriend Plead Not Guilty To Charges In Case In New Hampshire Court

MERRIMACK, NH (CBS) - Two brothers of Danielle Dauphinais, the mother of missing New Hampshire boy Elijah Lewis, pled with her Wednesday to release information about his whereabouts. "We're here to get a message to Danielle, please cooperate, please let us know where he is," said Randy Stewart.

Dauphinais was virtually in court pleading not guilty to charges connected with his disappearance. "I want him to be found or brought home, I really want the best for him," said John Dauphinais.

Danielle Dauphinais and Joseph Stapf
Danielle Dauphinais and Joseph Stapf appeared in court Oct. 20, 2021 in a video link from jail. (WBZ-TV)

It was originally reported the little boy from Merrimack, New Hampshire had not been seen for six months, but investigators have narrowed that timeframe to 30 days and have spent the last several days conducting an extensive search near a lakeside home where he was living, and beyond.

"As we've collected more evidence, talked to more people, interviewed more witnesses, we narrowed the time frame back to September 1," said New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Susan Morrell.

Elijah Lewis
Elijah Lewis in May 2020. (Photo credit: N.H. Attorney General's Office)

Over the weekend police got a break in the case when 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 in an agreement known as preventative detention.

But Elijah's whereabouts remain a mystery and the court appearance offered no new details. Danielle Dauphinais' brothers admit they've never met the boy and the family has been estranged. "Maybe I should have grown up and spoken to her more," said John Dauphanais. "I never expected anything like this."

Investigators won't say if the mother is cooperating or who may have last seen Elijah. "We all want to have hope," said Morrell. Hope that it is not a recovery.

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