Bella Bond's mother Rachelle Bond pleads not guilty to additional charges

Gail Waterhouse — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 17:21:57 -0500

By Emily Hopkins

The mother of Bella Bond, the girl who captivated the nation last summer as the unidentified toddler "Baby Doe," has pleaded not guilty in connection to additional charges connected to her daughter's death.

Rachelle D. Bond

At her arraignment in Suffolk County Superior Court on Wednesday, a judge ordered Rachelle Bond, 40, held on $1 million bail on charges of being an accessory after the fact to Bella Bond's murder. A grand jury also indicted Bond on charges of larceny for allegedly continuing to accept public assistance benefits intended for Bella after her death, an amount that Assistant District Attorney David Deakin says came to about $1,400.

Deakin spared no details as he read the charges against Bond, describing everything from the class of the construction grade garbage bag that Bond’s codefendant Michael McCarthy allegedly used to store the child’s body, to the military-style duffel bag that was used to transport Bella to a remote area of South Boston, where he allegedly disposed of her body over a sea wall.

Deakin also said that the state would pursue charges based on Bond’s activity during the months following the girl’s death. He said that Bond had told police that she was held against her free will by McCarthy, who she said threatened her life should she go to the authorities. Deakin contended that text messages between Bond and McCarthy during this time suggested that they maintained a “domestic if not intimate relationship,” and that Bond was seen at a McCarthy family reunion in New Hampshire acting normally.

Bond’s attorney, Janice Bassil, took issue with the DA’s detail account, saying that it “poisoned” any potential for a fair trial. She also noted that while Bond may not have been physically restrained during the months following Bella’s death, that there are ways of “emotional and psychological control” that could be at play.

In court Wednesday, Bond wore a sweatshirt and kept her hair in front of her face during the arraignment.

Bella Bond

Bella Bond’s body was found on Deer Island in Winthrop by a woman walking her dog on June 25, 2015. Though a photo reconstruction of the girl was broadcast nationally, she was only identified until September 18. She was two years old at the time of her death.

Deakin said that Bond told detectives that McCarthy had killed Bella late one night when the child refused to go to bed. Bond allegedly walked into the child’s bedroom to find McCarthy standing over her, waving his arms rapidly in the area of her stomach. She alleges that McCarthy then forbade her from contacting authorities.

McCarthy is expected to appear in court on Jan. 11. He is charged with the murder of Bella Bond.

'Baby Doe' identified as Bella Bond, mother and boyfriend arrested

Gail Waterhouse — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 22:54:52 -0400

Bella Bond
(facebook.com)

After nearly three months with no name, the toddler whose body was found on the shore of Deer Island in late June has been identified, and her alleged killers arrested.

On June 25, a woman walking her dog on Deer Island in Winthrop discovered a toddler’s body washed ashore in a trash bag and called police.

A week later, police and the Suffolk district attorney’s office released a composite image of the child, dubbed “Baby Doe” by investigators and the media. They also released photos of the polka dot leggings she was found wearing and a blanket placed in the bag with her.

Investigators followed up on hundreds of tips, tracking down leads to countries as far away as Peru. Despite the computer-generated image of Baby Doe reaching roughly 60 million people, and investigators’ use of advanced forensic techniques to identify where she came from, the toddler remained unidentified until mid-September.

After receiving a tip, investigators executed a search warrant on a Dorchester apartment late Thursday night, Sept. 17. The next day, police arrested Rachelle Bond, and Rachelle’s boyfriend, Michael McCarthy in connection with the murder of Rachelle’s daughter Bella.

Baby Doe identified as Bella Bond.
(State Police photo)

In a news conference that afternoon, Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said:

Her name was Bella.

Based on interviews and evidence recovered pursuant to multiple search warrants during the past 24 hours, the child we knew as Baby Doe has been identified as Bella Neveah Amoroso Bond. She was about two and a half years old when she died, and a resident of Dorchester.

McCarthy, 35, is charged with Bella’s murder, and Bond, 40, is charged with accessory after the fact.

Michael P. McCarthy
(handout photo)

At the suspects’ arraignment on Monday, Sept. 21, Assistant District Attorney David Deakin said Rachelle Bond told detectives that Michael McCarthy killed Bella one night in late May after she would not go to sleep. Bond reportedly told police that McCarthy said he would quiet her down. When Bond went to check on them, she reported seeing McCarthy’s hand on Bella’s stomach, and Bella’s face red and swollen.

McCarthy reportedly called Bella a “demon,” and said, “It was her time to die.”

Rachelle D. Bond
(handout photo)

The pair allegedly stored Bella’s body in a refrigerator for a few days, before dumping the child in the harbor in South Boston. Investigators have reportedly removed a refrigerator and other items, including a mattress, from the home on Maxwell Street in Dorchester.

A judge ordered Bond held on $1 million bail. McCarthy is being held without bail.

Bella’s biological father Joseph Amoroso, who never met the little girl, told the Boston Globe that Rachelle Bond told him about Bella’s death about a week before Bond was arrested, but neither contacted authorities.

“Amoroso said he was sickened by what he had learned and that he and Bond talked about whether they should go to the police or FBI. They never did,” the Globe reported.

Amoroso will not be charged, according to Boston.com.

State Police have jurisdiction over the case. Both McCarthy and Bond will next appear in Dorchester Municipal Court for a probable cause hearing on October 29.

Bella Neveah Bond | Homicide Watch Boston

Bella Bond's mother Rachelle Bond pleads not guilty to additional charges

'Baby Doe' identified as Bella Bond, mother and boyfriend arrested