The mother of three kids who passed away on Monday after being discovered critically ill and unresponsive on the Coney Island beaches has been taken into custody and charged with murder, CNN reported.
According to a statement from the New York Police Department, Erin Merdy, 30, is accused of three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of having a callous disregard for human life, and three counts of killing victims who were under the age of 11.
Merdy was initially detained for interrogation on Monday, according to the authorities, after two 911 calls that eventually led officers to the children’s deaths at around 4:30 a.m. ET.
NYPD Chief of Department Kenneth Corey stated, “The caller expressed concern that a family member may have abused her three young children.”
According to the official, Erin Merdy has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three acts of callous disregard for human life, and three crimes of murder involving victims younger than 11 years old.
The youngsters drowned early on Monday, and their deaths were ruled homicides by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City.
After Merdy allegedly informed them that “the kids are gone” and “the kids are gone,” relatives called the police. According to the law enforcement officer, Merdy admitted to detectives that she had been “dreaming of walking the kids in the sea” when questioned.
According to the official, Merdy was processed on Wednesday and is still being evaluated psychologically in a hospital.
First responders performed CPR and other life-saving techniques on the three kids before they were all pronounced dead at a hospital, according to Chief of Department Kenneth Corey on Monday.
Police located their mother early on Monday in Brighton Beach, close to Coney Island, where they questioned her before taking her to the hospital, a law enforcement official said.
According to Corey, the authorities have not discovered any proof that the kids had ever been mistreated or neglected. Sources informed CBS New York that investigators believe Merdy was under severe financial pressure. She was being sued by her landlord because she had ceased paying her rent. Investigators also think she had postpartum depression.
Zachary, 7, Lilana, 4, and Oliver, 3 months old, were the victims; they were discovered comatose along the Brooklyn waterfront. The kids were taken to a neighboring hospital by medical staff, where they were later pronounced dead.
