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Mother and man accused of covering up disappearance of son, 5, arraigned in a Bronx courtroom

Mother and man accused of covering up disappearance of son, 5, arraigned in a Bronx courtroom 2

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The mother of a missing New Hampshire boy, 5, and her boyfriend were charged with covering up the boy’s disappearance in a Bronx courtroom before the pair were extradited to their home state.

Danielle Denise Dauphinais, 35, and 30-year-old Joseph Stapf were charged on Sunday with child endangerment and witness tampering over the disappearance of Elijah Lewis, 5, who hasn’t been seen by family or friends in six months. 

Following their arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court on Monday, the couple was escorted by New Hampshire authorities back to the state to face charges in Hillsborough County Superior Court later this week.    

Danielle Denise Dauphinais, 35, is pictured in Bronx County Criminal Court before being extradited to New Hampshire in connection with the disappearance of her five-year-old son

Danielle Denise Dauphinais, 35, is pictured in Bronx County Criminal Court before being extradited to New Hampshire in connection with the disappearance of her five-year-old son 

New Hampshire authorities take Joseph Stapf, 30, (pictured in handcuffs) into custody following an extradition hearing at Bronx County Criminal Court

New Hampshire authorities take Joseph Stapf, 30, (pictured in handcuffs) into custody following an extradition hearing at Bronx County Criminal Court

Stapf (pictured in handcuffs) was charged with witness tampering and child endangerment

Stapf (pictured in handcuffs) was charged with witness tampering and child endangerment

Authorities said Dauphinais, (pictured in handcuffs) allegedly told others to lie about her son Elijah Lewis and where he was living

Authorities said Dauphinais, (pictured in handcuffs) allegedly told others to lie about her son Elijah Lewis and where he was living

Five-year-old Elijah Lewis of Merrimack, N.H., was last seen by 'independent individuals' six months ago, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General's office. The New Hampshire Division of Youth and Families reported the boy missing on Thursday

Five-year-old Elijah Lewis of Merrimack, N.H., was last seen by ‘independent individuals’ six months ago, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office. The New Hampshire Division of Youth and Families reported the boy missing on Thursday

Danielle Denise Dauphinais, 35

Joseph Stapf, 30

Danielle Denise Dauphinais, 35, and her boyfriend Joseph Stapf, 30, were arrested near Westchester and Bruckner Aves. at approximately 7:15 am on Sunday, according to the New York Police Department

In Merrimack on Sunday, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Team took several boats of divers to look for the missing boy in Naticook Lake

In Merrimack on Sunday, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Team took several boats of divers to look for the missing boy in Naticook Lake 

New Hampshire State Police took several items from 4 Sunset Drive in Merrimack, Elijah Lewis's last known home, which is currently surrounded with yellow police tape

New Hampshire State Police took several items from 4 Sunset Drive in Merrimack, Elijah Lewis’s last known home, which is currently surrounded with yellow police tape

New Hampshire police were seen digging in the home's backyard near a shed. 'At this point, we¿re hoping it¿s not a recovery mission,' New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said on Monday

New Hampshire police were seen digging in the home’s backyard near a shed. ‘At this point, we’re hoping it’s not a recovery mission,’ New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said on Monday

Dauphinais and Stapf were arrested near Westchester Avenue and Bruckner Avenue at approximately 7.15am on Sunday, according to the New York Police Department. 

The NYPD would not disclose to DailyMail.com how they became aware that the New Hampshire fugitives were in New York City.

An arrest warrant was issued after New Hampshire Division of Youth and Families reported the boy missing on Thursday.   

Knowing that Child Protective Services was searching for the boy, the couple allegedly instructed others to lie about his whereabouts, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office. 

In their arrest warrant, the office alleges that ‘they violated a duty of care, protection or support’ for the five-year-old. 

Officials say neither Dauphinais nor Stapf reported Elijah as missing.

In Merrimack, New Hampshire on Sunday, the state’s Fish and Game Dive Team searched for the missing boy in Naticook Lake, which is adjacent to the home where the boy lived on 7 Sunset Drive, according to Patch. 

The day before, the outlet said, a police dog was brought to the lake in an attempt to find the boy. 

New Hampshire State Police also executed a search warrant at the mother’s home. 

They took several items from the home, which is currently surrounded with yellow police tape, and police could be seen digging in the home’s backyard near a shed. 

‘At this point, we’re hoping it’s not a recovery mission,’ New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said on Monday. 

‘We’re hoping somehow that we are going to go under a rock somewhere and find out that someone has taken him in, maybe there is some sort of mistaken identity that’s going on out there or he’s been misidentified. But right now, we are fearful that may be the direction we are headed.’

In Merrimack on Sunday, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Team (pictured) took several boats of divers to look for the missing boy in Naticook Lake to look for the missing 5-year-old

In Merrimack on Sunday, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Team (pictured) took several boats of divers to look for the missing boy in Naticook Lake to look for the missing 5-year-old

Naticook Lake is adjacent to the home where the boy lived on 7 Sunset Drive

Naticook Lake is adjacent to the home where the boy lived on 7 Sunset Drive

Authorities said they do not believe this is a situation where the child ran away from home, according to WMUR

 Authorities said they do not believe this is a situation where the child ran away from home, according to WMUR 

On Saturday, a police dog was brought to Naticook Lake in an attempt to sniff the missing boy out

On Saturday, a police dog was brought to Naticook Lake in an attempt to sniff the missing boy out

'We¿re hoping somehow that we are going to go under a rock somewhere and find out that someone has taken him in, maybe there is some sort of mistaken identity that¿s going on out there or he¿s been misidentified. But right now, we are fearful that may be the direction we are headed,' New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said on Monday

‘We’re hoping somehow that we are going to go under a rock somewhere and find out that someone has taken him in, maybe there is some sort of mistaken identity that’s going on out there or he’s been misidentified. But right now, we are fearful that may be the direction we are headed,’ New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati said on Monday

‘Right now, the goal is to find Elijah and ensure he’s safe,’ Agati told WBZ-TV on Saturday before investigators located Dauphinais and Stapf. 

‘At this point, we are hoping to find Elijah alive and somewhere.’ 

Authorities said they do not believe this is a situation where the child ran away from home, according to WMUR.

 ‘Our search is physically in that area for evidence of where Elijah is, but also we are searching throughout New England to try and find where he is,’ Agati said. 

Elijah Lewis (pictured), who was last seen six months, was reported missing on Oct. 14

Elijah Lewis (pictured), who was last seen six months, was reported missing on Oct. 14

Authorities said Danielle Denise Dauphinais (pictured) and Joseph Stapf instructed others to lie about Elijah Lewis's whereabouts

Authorities said Danielle Denise Dauphinais (pictured) and Joseph Stapf instructed others to lie about Elijah Lewis’s whereabouts

'Right now, the goal is to find Elijah and ensure he¿s safe,' New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati told WBZ-TV on Saturday before investigators located Dauphinais and Stapf (pictured together)

'Right now, the goal is to find Elijah and ensure he¿s safe,' New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati told WBZ-TV on Saturday before investigators located Dauphinais and Stapf (pictured together)

 Danielle Denise Dauphinais and her boyfriend Joseph Stapf were arrested in the Bronx

Dauphinais and Stapf (pictured together) were arraigned on Monday afternoon in Bronx County Criminal Court. They will be extradited to New Hampshire, according to the NYPD

Dauphinais and Stapf (pictured together) were arraigned on Monday afternoon in Bronx County Criminal Court. They will be extradited to New Hampshire, according to the NYPD

An AMBER Alert wasn't issued when the five-year-old was reported missing on Thursday. New Hampshire officials said 'Amber Alerts need to be utilized in a proper way. This is one where it's much better for us to get the word out, get photographs out and disseminate the information that way'

An AMBER Alert wasn’t issued when the five-year-old was reported missing on Thursday. New Hampshire officials said ‘Amber Alerts need to be utilized in a proper way. This is one where it’s much better for us to get the word out, get photographs out and disseminate the information that way’

Before they were discovered in New York, authorities in New Hampshire implored the public to help them find the couple and reported that Dauphinais was last seen driving a red 2007 Toyota Tundra with New Hampshire plates JOJOD78.

‘At this point, their location is unknown. The one message we have for them if they are out there, please call Merrimack police. Please call New Hampshire State Police,’ Agati said on Saturday.

‘We need to talk to you about where is Elijah and we need that information as soon as possible.’

An AMBER Alert wasn’t issued when the five-year-old was reported missing on Thursday. Agait said ‘Amber Alerts need to be utilized in a proper way.’ 

‘This is one where it’s much better for us to get the word out, get photographs out and disseminate the information that way.’ 

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