Mother’s boyfriend gets 22-45 years in death of New Hampshire boy Elijah Lewis; ‘I wish I could take it back’

NASHUA, N.H. – A New Hampshire man has been sentenced to as much as 45 years in jail within the loss of life of 5-year-old Elijah Lewis.

Joseph Stapf pleaded responsible to a number of fees on Thursday, together with manslaughter. He’s dealing with a time period of 22-45 years behind bars.

“How can there be justice when this little life is snuffed out,” mentioned New Hampshire Superior Courtroom Choose Charles Temple, holding up a photograph of “Eli.”

Lewis was reported lacking by social staff and later discovered lifeless in Abington, Massachusetts, final October. An post-mortem confirmed he suffered facial and scalp accidents, acute fentanyl intoxication, malnourishment and strain ulcers. 

Stapf was relationship Elijah’s mom, Danielle Dauphinais, who’s awaiting trial on a homicide cost.

Timothy Lewis, Elijah’s organic father, gave a sufferer influence assertion to the courtroom, talking by means of a monitor from his dwelling in Arizona.

“You possibly can have stepped as much as cease this at any level when you had been man sufficient,” he mentioned. “You possibly can have introduced him dwelling to us at any level.”

Stapf himself spoke in courtroom as effectively on Thursday, saying he “by no means needed any of this to occur to Elijah.” He supplied a tearful apology after an excruciating account of what the boy endured within the couple’s Merrimack, New Hampshire dwelling.

“I liked that boy. I did,” Stapf mentioned. “I am so sorry. I want I may take it again.”

The courtroom was stuffed with police and case staff. 

“Somebody ought to have mentioned one thing. Somebody in that household ought to have mentioned one thing,” Merrimack Police Chief Brian Levesque mentioned. 

Additionally, within the entrance row, a bunch headed by considered one of Elijah’s kinfolk, holding indicators that mentioned #EliLewisStrong. 

“Be nosey,” MJ Morrison mentioned. “Be nosey along with your neighbor’s youngsters. It can save you a toddler’s life by doing one thing like that.”