Trial For Man Accused Of Killing 2-Year-Old Bella Bond And Disposing Of Body In Trash Bag Begins Today
The first-degree murder trial for Michael McCarthy, the man who allegedly killed “Baby Doe,” is set to begin today, and it’s sure to be an emotional one. The story first captivated the nation less than two years ago.
On June 24, 2015, a child’s body was found washed up on the shore of Deer Island, New York by a woman who was walking her dog. The discovery of the child’s body, which was inhumanely shoved into a plastic bag, prompted a nationwide search for the identity of the child that Police referred to “Baby Doe.” Months went by before the child was finally identified as 2-year-old Bella Bond in September of 2015.
According to The Boston Globe, Suffolk Assistant District Attorney David Deakin opened this week’s trial with powerful statements.
“She was alone and unclaimed…. Almost immediately that little girl became known as Baby Doe.”
After Bella’s mother, Rachelle Bond, confessed to a friend via text message that she helped McCarthy dispose of the body, the friend went to police, and thus, the identity of Bella was finally uncovered, as Deakin told jurors in opening statements.
“Baby Doe finally had a name, an identity. No one could give her back her life.”
In exchange for a guilty plea in the case, Rachelle agreed to testify against McCarthy for the prosecution.
Michael and Rachelle, both heroin addicts, were in a romantic relationship at the time of baby Bella’s death. According to WBZ NewsRadio 1030 reporter Carl Stevens’ tweet, the two shared a bond over alternative spirituality.
“#BellaBond mom was impressed by McCarthy’s interest in alternative spirituality. He sensed “evil spirits” in their apartment.”
McCarthy believed that Bella was a demon, which is what prompted him to strike and kill Bella, according to CBS Boston.
“But Deakin said McCarthy struck Bella one night, and that afterward, she wasn’t moving or breathing. Some time later, Deakin said, McCarthy told Bond to get in the car, and drove to South Boston, where he threw a duffel bag containing Bella’s body into the water.”
CNN reports that McCarthy also threatened Bond into keeping Bella’s death a secret.
“Prosecutors said Bond did not report the incident to police because she was afraid of McCarthy. Bond was “trapped” by his abusive behavior and by her own drug use, prosecutors said.”
They also go on to say that Defense Attorney Jonathan Shapiro alleges that Rachelle is actually the one to blame for the death of Bella, citing that his client has been wrongly accused.
“He had nothing to do with her tragic death. Michael did not even know that Bella was dead until the police who arrested him told him. The prosecution’s case rests entirely upon the uncorroborated and unbelievable testimony from Rachelle Bond.”
Twitter users took to social media today to express their theories on the trial, which are mostly again Rachelle.
“And they’re both going to get away with murder because she made a deal but her testimony against him is unreliable. So sad. #BellaBond”
Another user had similar thoughts.
“Sad that #BellaBond mother Rachelle took a plea, time served & will be free to procreate again. Tubal ligation should’ve been condition.”
CBS reports that Bella’s biological father, Joe Amoroso, never got a chance to meet his daughter.
“Amoroso claims to have never seen his daughter while she was alive. Prosecutors said that when he came to Boston expecting to see his daughter, Rachelle told him she wasn’t there and that he assumed the state had taken her.”
WBZ NewsRadio 1030 also reports that Joe will be present in the courtroom throughout the trial.
“I’m going to be here everyday because it’s all about justice. I want to see them get their punishment.”
The trial is expected to last for several weeks.
[Featured Image by Pat Greenhouse/AP Images]
