Erin Merdy Bio – Erin Merdy Wiki
The drowning deaths of three young children on a Coney Island beach were ruled homicides, the city Medical Examiner said Tuesday, as their mother remained hospitalized after allegedly confessing to the crimes.
AGE:
Erin Merdy is 30 years old.
DETAIL OF INCIDENCE:
Three children died early Monday on the beach in Coney Island, New York. Years old.
Police identified the children as Zachary Merdy, 7, Liliana Merdy, 4, and 3-month-old Oliver Bondarev.
The children were found around 4:40 a.m. after a relative called 911 indicating “she was concerned that her family member may have harmed her three small children,” New York Police Chief of Department Kenneth Corey said at a press conference Monday.
Police have not identified the children’s mother. However, multiple news outlets have identified her as 30-year-old Erin Merdy.
Merdy was found with relatives on the boardwalk around 3 a.m. after a second 911 call was placed.
“The mother was soaking wet,” Corey said. “Whether she had been out in the rain or whether she had been in the water is all speculative at this point. She was wet, she was barefoot, and she was not communicative to the officers.”
Police were initially called to Merdy’s apartment around 1:40 a.m. for a welfare check and met the father of one of the kids, who “expressed similar concerns and said he believed the woman and the children were on the boardwalk in Coney Island,” Corey said.
Officers began searching for Merdy and her children on the beach boardwalk. After Merdy was found, the search intensified, said Corey. The children were later discovered about two miles from where police found Merdy.
The children were pronounced dead at Coney Island Hospital. Merdy was taken to the police station to be questioned.
At the press conference, Corey said, “detective is attempting to speak with her, but so far, she has not said anything.”
An NYPD spokesman said Merdy is currently at a local hospital.
Merdy’s aunt Dine Stephen told the Daily Beast that Merdy was struggling with mental health issues.
“People have mental issues, and that needs to be focused on. A lot of people are struggling nowadays, and she was one of them. She struggled.”
“No one expected it to get to this level,” she said. “But obviously, she’s a woman who needs help. She has mental problems. We ask for people to have some grace and understand that. She’s not an evil person. She has mental issues that need to be addressed.”
Merdy’s uncle Eddy Stephen said he “knew she had some mental issues, with depression and stuff like that, but… not to that extent,” according to the Daily Beast. “I’m lost for words. We are all shocked by the situation. I don’t know what to say.”
Zachary’s father, Derrick Merdy told the New York Times that he had been fighting for custody of his son.
“I was trying to get my son,” he said. “Now, that’s not going to happen.”
No charges have been filed against Merdy as of Tuesday.