Mother of Baby Doe held on $1M bond; no bail for boyfriend

BOSTON (AP) — The mother of a young girl dubbed Baby Doe and identified almost three months after her remains washed up inside a trash bag on a Boston Harbor beach was ordered held on $1 million cash bond Monday, and the mother’s boyfriend was denied bail on murder charges.

Rachelle Bond, the mother of 2-year-old Bella Bond, and Michael McCarthy appeared in court for an emotionally charged arraignment. McCarthy is charged with killing Bella, whose body was found by a dog walker on Deer Island in June. Bond, who wore a gray zip-up sweater with the hood up at her appearance, is charged as an accessory after the fact.

As a prosecutor detailed the state’s case against the pair, Bella’s godmother, Megan Fewtrell, yelled at Bond: “I hope you rot in hell!” She was escorted from the courtroom while clutching a yellow stuffed duck, which she said Bella took to bed with her every night.

Joe Amoroso, who identified himself as Bella’s biological father, yelled as McCarthy was being led away after his arraignment: “Mike McCarthy, you’re done! You won’t last a day.”

A composite image of the chubby-cheeked girl with deep brown eyes had been viewed by millions as authorities tried to identify her. The big break came last week when Boston police received a tip and a search warrant was executed at her mother’s apartment.

Assistant District Attorney David Deakin said Monday that police got the tip after Bond broke down in tears Sept. 16 and told a friend of McCarthy that McCarthy had killed Bella.

The man said Bond told him she had been off drugs for the last couple of days. When the man told her that was good news, that she’d now be able to get her daughter back from state custody, he said Bond broke down crying and said, “I’ll never see my daughter again,”’ according to the prosecutor.

Bond told him: “Michael McCarthy killed her,” according to Deakin. The man told his sister, and she contacted authorities, Deakin said.