By Sue Ellen Woodcock
Local High School students Madelyn Fainga’a, Meghan Chavis and Danielle Eocchia sat quietly as officials spoke about Bella Bond.
Michael Patrick McCarthy, 35, of Quincy, and his girlfriend Rachelle D. Bond, 40, both of 115 Maxwell St., Dorchester were arraigned in Dorchester District Court Monday morning on charges in the death of toddler Bella Bond.
McCarthy is being held without bail and Bond is being held on $1 million cash and will be due back in court on Oct. 20. Both suspects have court records that include drug arrests.
Bella Bond, known for 85 days as Baby Doe or Deer Island Doe, was finally identified last week after an acquaintance of McCarthy’s tipped off police. Bella was found June 25 by a woman walking her dog on the shore of Deer Island in Winthrop. Bella was in a plastic contractor’s bag, wearing white with black polka dot leggings and wrapped in a fleece blanket. For weeks Winthrop Police, the State Police and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office sent out composite photos of the two-and-a-half-year-old, set up a hotline, and had special billboards made with her image. On social media Bella’s image went around the world on Facebook and Twitter.
No one connected to Bella ever came forward to identify her.
Monday night a vigil with 300-400 people was held at Deer Island. Guests included Gov. Charlie Baker and Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, who lives in Winthrop. There has been an outpouring of donations for Bella’s burial. Officials said her body will stay at the medical examiner’s office for a couple more weeks for further tests. After that it will be up to the biological father to decide burial plans. He did tell a reporter from the Boston Herald that he would be comfortable with her being buried in Winthrop Cemetery because his great grandmother is also buried there.