Mom and boyfriend arrainged on Baby Doe case

[jeaniebueller]

Obviously sensitive story.

Her mom had parental rights terminated to two other kids and CPS was previously involved with this child in 2012 and 2013. Ugh, the story really keeps getting worse and worse.

www.cnn.com/2015/09/21/us/boston-baby-doe-charges/index.html

CNN)—Before the end of her short life, little Bella Bond was allegedly punched by her mother's boyfriend because he thought she was possessed, a law enforcement source involved in the investigation said.

On Monday, Bella's mother, Rachelle Bond, and the boyfriend, Michael McCarthy, appeared in a Boston court, where a judge granted a prosecutor's request that McCarthy be held without bail. The judge also set bail for Bond at $1 million "to ensure her appearance."

It's unclear whether the punches killed the toddler who became known as "Baby Doe" after her remains, wrapped in a trash bag, were found in June on a rocky shoreline in Boston Harbor.

"The tragedy of her death is compounded by the fact that her short life ended not by illness or accident, but we believe by an act of violence in the very place where she should have felt safest, in her home," Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said.

McCarthy, who is not Bella's biological father, and Bond were arrested last week in connection with the death.



On Friday, McCarthy, 35, was charged with murder, Conley said. Bond, 40, was charged as an accessory to murder after the fact.

"We allege that McCarthy caused Bella's death, that he did so intentionally, that he and Bond took specific steps to keep Bella's death a secret and to avoid prosecution," Conley said.

The mystery of the girl with big brown eyes and a cherubic face -- as rendered by forensic artist Christi Andrews and distributed by authorities -- captivated the nation for months.

But it wasn't until a person staying with Bella's mother provided the crucial tip that investigators were able to identify her, the law enforcement official said.

The tipster asked Bond about the child's whereabouts, and the mother admitted after being confronted that Bella was dead, according to the source.

"This child, whose very name means beauty, was murdered," Conley said.

He declined to comment on the motive or manner of death.

Court records show that Bond's criminal history includes arrests for heroin possession and prostitution, CNN affiliate WCVB-TV reported.


She wasn't 3 yet


Bella Amoroso Bond was just shy of 3 years old.

"For nearly three months, we have endeavored to speak for a true innocent who could not speak for herself," State Police Col. Richard McKeon said.

"Now we will give her justice."

For forensic artist of 'Baby Doe' image, eyes are turning point

After their arrests, the couple pointed fingers at each other over her death, Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo said.

"It appears as though it was a situation of a boyfriend who was involved and that apparently, I think, mother and boyfriend sort of blaming each other in terms of who harmed the child," he said.

Attorneys for Bond and McCarthy have said little on the case. McCarthy's lawyer, Jonathan Shapiro, told Boston NPR station WBUR that McCarthy will plead not guilty.

Parental rights terminated


McCarthy is in custody at a Boston area hospital, where he is getting treated for a medical condition; Bond is detained at a separate location, according to the law enforcement source.

The arrests came after a search of a Boston home.

The state Department of Children and Families said it provided services for Bella in 2012 and 2013 following neglect complaints. It did not provide specific details.

Between 2001 and 2006, child welfare authorities terminated Bond's parental rights over two other children, an agency official said. One is in custody of the maternal grandmother; an unrelated family adopted the other, the official said.

Yessiomara Torres, a next-door neighbor, said Bond told her she had lost custody of two other children and worried about losing custody of Bella, CNN affiliate WHDH-TV reported.

"She said she didn't want anybody taking her away from her, that she is trying her best to be the best parent that she can be," Torres told the station.


Baby Doe


Authorities found the tiny remains on June 25 wrapped in a black trash bag. She was wearing polka-dot leggings and lying next to a zebra blanket, east of Boston's Logan International Airport.

Police released photos of the blanket and leggings.

Investigators puzzle over clues in Baby Doe case

"We're gonna have to mourn together as a family through this, and stick together, and get through

this the best way that we possibly know how to," Bella's biological father, Joe Amoroso, told CNN affiliate WHDH.

"Somewhere in my heart I'm gonna have to find forgiveness and that time will come," he said.



Authorities previously said they believed that Baby Doe was about 4 at the time of her death.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children released a composite of Baby Doe in July. It was distributed via social media, where more than 50 million people shared it.

Follow @raysancheznyc

CNN's Linh Tran, Sara Ganim, Faith Karimi, David Shortell, Sarah Jorgensen and Chuck Johnston contributed to this report. 

[ttt]

Sept 21, 2015 10:17:46 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

"We're gonna have to mourn together as a family through this, and stick together, and get through

this the best way that we possibly know how to," Bella's biological father, Joe Amoroso, told CNN affiliate WHDH.

"Somewhere in my heart I'm gonna have to find forgiveness and that time will come," he said.

You know what? F you too. You knew you had a child by a drug addict and you never even bothered to meet her, let alone take care of her or make sure she was being cared for. She was abused and murdered and you didn't even have a clue because you didn't care enough to know. You don't *deserve* any forgiveness. 

I want terrible things to happen to all of these people. 

[Skyesthelimit1212]

I walked around Deer Island yesterday, not to see the memorial, but just because I was in the area and needed some air. I saw the memorial on my way out and there were like groups of people just hanging around with their kids, taking pics. I'm thinking you're all just here hoping that the news comes along and you can be on tv.

[Alyssa]

"McCarthy is in custody at a Boston area hospital, where he is getting treated for a medical condition; Bond is detained at a separate location, according to the law enforcement source."


Is that a fancy way of saying that he's coming off of drugs?  The Daily Mail says that this child was placed in a refigerator "for days" while the mother and her boyfriend went on a bender.  It's pretty pathetic that she's now in court with her head down and sulking. 

Daily Mail Link

[ttt]

Sept 21, 2015 11:45:25 GMT -5 Alyssa said:

"McCarthy is in custody at a Boston area hospital, where he is getting treated for a medical condition; Bond is detained at a separate location, according to the law enforcement source."


Is that a fancy way of saying that he's coming off of drugs?  The Daily Mail says that this child was placed in a refigerator "for days" while the mother and her boyfriend went on a bender.  It's pretty pathetic that she's now in court with her head down and sulking. 

Daily Mail Link

I'm kind of hoping it means he's recovering from the beatdown he got from the police after being arrested. 

[lizlemon19]

This case is in my state, and is just so sad. Such a sweet girl who should have had a good life.
I don't like the implications in the news and comments section that imply this is DCF's fault. I was a CPS worker in MA for 10 years. She (Bella) was not an open case, and had not been in two years. I don't have all the details of why a case was opened, but sometimes you don't have enough information to keep a case open or seek custody if a child. In MA, even having your rights terminated previously on other children is not grounds for removal unless you can show current. Social workers don't have crystal balls.

[CloudBee]

Sept 21, 2015 11:45:25 GMT -5 Alyssa said:

"McCarthy is in custody at a Boston area hospital, where he is getting treated for a medical condition; Bond is detained at a separate location, according to the law enforcement source."


Is that a fancy way of saying that he's coming off of drugs?  The Daily Mail says that this child was placed in a refigerator "for days" while the mother and her boyfriend went on a bender.  It's pretty pathetic that she's now in court with her head down and sulking. 

Daily Mail Link

I don't think so. He was already in the hospital when he was arrested.

A report said that one of the 2 people who turned him in actually texted him while he was in the hospital to ask if he murdered the little girl. He responded with someone about her being a demon. 

[tacoflavoredkisses]

Sept 21, 2015 16:55:39 GMT -5 lizlemon19 said:

This case is in my state, and is just so sad. Such a sweet girl who should have had a good life.
I don't like the implications in the news and comments section that imply this is DCF's fault. I was a CPS worker in MA for 10 years. She (Bella) was not an open case, and had not been in two years. I don't have all the details of why a case was opened, but sometimes you don't have enough information to keep a case open or seek custody if a child. In MA, even having your rights terminated previously on other children is not grounds for removal unless you can show current. Social workers don't have crystal balls.

There is a trend of children who should have been flagged by DCF not getting proper attention and then turning up dead, either by "unexplained" deaths or homicide- but I think the overwhelming emphasis is on the fact that DCF is underfunded and the workers are overburdened with so many cases.

There was a great article in the Globe about it that had statistics and referenced specific cases over the past year or two.

[tacoflavoredkisses]

I would pull up the globe article and link it but I have reached the "free" article limit on my phone and can't read without a subscription.

[twohearted]

Sept 21, 2015 17:02:34 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

I read somewhere he is being treated for abscesses from heroin injections. No idea if it's true.

I had read the same.

[jeaniebueller]

Sept 21, 2015 16:55:39 GMT -5 lizlemon19 said:

This case is in my state, and is just so sad. Such a sweet girl who should have had a good life.
I don't like the implications in the news and comments section that imply this is DCF's fault. I was a CPS worker in MA for 10 years. She (Bella) was not an open case, and had not been in two years. I don't have all the details of why a case was opened, but sometimes you don't have enough information to keep a case open or seek custody if a child. In MA, even having your rights terminated previously on other children is not grounds for removal unless you can show current. Social workers don't have crystal balls.

I hope you don't think I was implying CPS was at fault. I work in the child welfare field, so I get it. The background makes sense as to why other family members believed that the little girl was removed when she disappeared.

[jillboston]

Sept 21, 2015 17:11:55 GMT -5 tacoflavoredkisses said:

Sept 21, 2015 16:55:39 GMT -5 lizlemon19 said:

This case is in my state, and is just so sad. Such a sweet girl who should have had a good life.
I don't like the implications in the news and comments section that imply this is DCF's fault. I was a CPS worker in MA for 10 years. She (Bella) was not an open case, and had not been in two years. I don't have all the details of why a case was opened, but sometimes you don't have enough information to keep a case open or seek custody if a child. In MA, even having your rights terminated previously on other children is not grounds for removal unless you can show current. Social workers don't have crystal balls.

There is a trend of children who should have been flagged by DCF not getting proper attention and then turning up dead, either by "unexplained" deaths or homicide- but I think the overwhelming emphasis is on the fact that DCF is underfunded and the workers are overburdened with so many cases.

There was a great article in the Globe about it that had statistics and referenced specific cases over the past year or two.

There are 13 jobs with DCF listed on the Mass.gov jobs website all posted yesterday (I check it every day as I am way past wanting a new job..). I guess Gov. Baker decided to raise that "job freeze" he put into place when he came into office.

I hope DCF gets staffed as is recommended by the professionals in this field because the situation that Bella Bond lived in sounds precarious if not down right dangerous. And shame on the "adults" around her who watched this abuse and neglect and did NOTHING to protect her. And her sperm donor douche of a bio father can go jump off a bridge too.

edit- I owe you a Coke tillie.