counts of murder after the remains of three babies
were found in the filthy, vermin-infested home she
shared with her boyfriend and four other children.
Erika Murray, 31, was charged with foetal death
concealment, witness intimidation and permitting substantial injury to a child. Her boyfriend, Ray Rivera, is charged with offences
including assault and battery on a child and reckless
endangerment of a child. Prosecutors described the horrific conditions that
four children - aged from six months to 13 years -
were found alive in at the house. Authorities said there were piles of dirty diapers,
rubbish strewn everywhere, and remains of dead
animals. The children were removed from the
address in August after a 10-year-old boy went to a
neighbour's house, and asked for help in quieting a
crying baby. The neighbour allegedly discovered a severely
neglected six-month-old baby covered in excrement,
and a three-year-old child. After the older children were interviewed, police
searched the house in Massachusetts, where they
discovered the remains of three babies. Charges have been brought for the murder of two of
the babies - one who was wearing a onesie, and the
other who was in a diaper. It is believed that the third dead infant still had its
placenta attached, and Murray has therefore not
been charged with its murder. She is being held on $1million bail after pleading not
guilty to the offences she was first charged with.
Murray is yet to enter pleas to the murder charge. The prosecutor said in court that DNA proves Rivera
is also the father of all seven children that lived in the
home, and quoted a paediatrician as saying this was
worst case of extreme neglect she has ever seen. The judge set bail for Rivera at $100,000 - he denies
all the charges against him. The house that the couple shared was condemned
and has since been demolished. See Photos above
