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After months-long search to identify Baby Doe, couple charged with murder

The mother of Bella Bond is being held on $1 million bail on charges of accessory after the fact to the child's murder. The mother's boyfriend has been charged with the girl's murder.

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Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe/AP
Megan Fewtrell, godmother of Bella Bond (r.) clutches 'Ducky,' Bella's favorite stuffed animal that was kept at Ms. Fewtrell's home, as she waits for the proceedings to begin in the arraignment of Bella's mother, Rachelle Dee Bond, and Ms. Bond's boyfriend, Michael Patrick McCarthy in the death of Bella Bond in Dorchester District Court, on Monday, in Boston. Bella Bond, 2, was known as Baby Doe until she was identified almost three months after her remains washed up inside a trash bag on a Boston Harbor beach. The judge ordered Bond held on $1 million cash bail on charges of being an accessory after the fact, and Bond's boyfriend, Michael McCarthy, held without bail on murder charges.

The mother of Bella Bond, the little girl known as Baby Doe through the summer after her body washed up on Boston’s Deer Island inside a trash bag, was ordered held on $1 million cash bond Monday. The mother's boyfriend was denied bail on murder charges.

Rachelle Bond, the mother of Bella, and Michael McCarthy appeared in court for the first time for their arraignments in Dorchester Municipal Court in Boston, Mass., on Monday. Mr. McCarthy is charged with murdering Bella, whose body was discovered by a dog walker in June. Ms. Bond is charged as an accessory after the fact.

A composite image of the little girl with bright brown eyes had been shared widely on social media, viewed by millions online as authorities worked to identify her. Nearly three months after the effort to identify Baby Doe began, Boston police received a tip from someone who had been staying at Bond's house, and a search warrant was executed Thursday at her apartment.

Upon Bella's identification, officials realized that social workers had been to the home repeatedly, yet the girl had slipped through the cracks.

Joe Amoroso, who says he is Bella's biological father, yelled as McCarthy was being led out of the courtroom: "Mike McCarthy, you're done! You won't last a day."

Assistant District Attorney David Deakin said Monday, addressing the judge, that a lifelong friend of McCarthy told police he had lived with the couple and Bella earlier this year but moved out because he was appalled at how they treated her.

The prosecutor said Bond told police that one night in late May, Bella didn't want to go to bed and was “unruly.” McCarthy said he would go into the bedroom to calm her down, Deakin said.

A little while later, when Bond realized she didn't hear any noise coming from the room, she went to check on Bella and found her lying on a bed, McCarthy standing over her with his hand near her abdomen, the prosecutor said.

Deakin said Bond reported that Bella's head was swollen and she was gray and that she knew her daughter was dead when she picked her up.

According to Bond, McCarthy said, "She was a demon anyway. It was her time to die."

Bond's lawyer, Janice Bassil, asked the judge to set a low cash bail, $250, citing years of homelessness, and a newly clean record as of 2011. She requested Bond be put under house arrest with an electronic bracelet, which drew murmurs and snickers from people in the courtroom.

McCarthy's lawyer, Jonathan Shapiro, did not request for his release on bail.

The judge instead ordered Bond held on $1 million cash bail and McCarthy held without bail.

This report includes material from the Associated Press.

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