Michael McCarthy, the boyfriend of Bella’s mum Rachelle, was then charged with the tot’s murder, while Rachelle was accused of being an accessory in the horrific killing.
There were dramatic scenes yesterday as the accused pair stood up in court in Boston, with emotional family and friends - including Bella's biological father, Joseph Amoroso - looking on.
As Bond and McCarthy both pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them, the tension proved too much for one family member, who began screaming at the accused pair. The emotional woman, believed to be an aunt of Bella's, had to be led from the courtroom.
Bond has been held on $1 million bail, while McCarthy is to be held without bail after being charged with the four-year-old’s murder.
Prosecutors also outlined the events leading up to Bella’s death in yesterday's hearing. According to Bond, the little girl had become ‘unruly’ one night in May, and McCarthy had gone to her room in order to get her to sleep. When Bond went into her daughter’s room a while later, she claims Bella was already dead.
The pair are then said to have gone on a drug-binge in the days following Bella’s death, before dumping the child’s body in the water in a weighted duffle bag.
Bella was found shortly after on Deer Island by a passer-by, and a nationwide investigation was launched to find out who this poor ‘Baby Doe’ was.
Police finally cracked the case last week, working on a tip-off from a member of the public.
