NEW: Blackstone Police Charge Woman After 3 Dead Infants Found in Home
Friday, September 12, 2014
Blackstone Police Chief Ross Atstupenas announced that Erika Murray, 31, of Blackstone will be arraigned later today in Uxbridge District Court. She is charged with fetal death concealment out of wedlock, witness intimidation, animal cruelty, and two counts of permitting substantial injury to a child.
“This has been a trying, difficult week for our investigators and for the residents of Blackstone,” Chief Atstupenas said. “This is not the kind of thing anyone would expect in our community or in any other place for that matter. I want to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation as this investigation has unfolded. Our priorities are to ensure that the four children are safe and to make sure justice is served going forward.”
Blackstone Police originally responded to Murray’s home on August 28 for a well-being check after concerns were raised about crying children heard in the home. Responding officers found the interior of the home to be in a state of squalor, with garbage, debris, and dirty diapers stacked over a foot high in places, and an out of control rodent and pest infestation.
Investigation
Four children between the ages of 13 and less than one-year-old were found living in filth. The Department of Children and Families was immediately called to the scene on an emergency basis and took custody of the children.
According to state records, the two oldest children were Murray’s and she was summonsed to court on neglect charges. There are no birth records for the two youngest children, however.
The house was condemned and police began an intensive investigation.
As the investigation progressed, police sought a search warrant for the home. When police investigated the interior of the home on Wednesday Sept. 10th, they located the body of what appeared to be a newborn baby, tucked into the back of a closet.
Yesterday, the Blackstone Police Department worked with the Office of Worcester District Attorney and Regional Hazardous Materials Teams dispatched by the Department of Fire Services and State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan to further investigate the home.
The investigation is ongoing, but official last night found two additional human bodies, believed to have been newborn babies. The skeletal remains of several animals, including cats and a dog, were also found inside.
Related Articles
- Julia Steiny: Blackstone Valley Prep Knocks Itself Out to Educate ALL Kids
- Worcester Crime Stats Mask Problem Areas
- Tom Finneran: The Crime of the Century
- Worcester Residents: Crime #1 Issue in the City
- Victim’s Family Outraged On Claims Worcester Bench Fuels Gang Crime
- Gang Crime at Worcester’s University Park Fueled by New Bench
- Crime and Drug Prevention Targeted by Worcester’s National Night Out
- Worcester’s University Park Becoming a Hotbed for Gang Crime
- Arthur Schaper: Victimless Crimes in the Bay State
- Crime in Worcester Spirals Higher in Latest National Ranking
- Are Confidential Informants Compromising Crime Fighting in Central MA?
- Worcester Plagued By BB Gun Crime
- Worcester Safety Group Demands Answers for Spike in Violent Crimes
- Worcester Crime Trends and Lack of Police Transparency
- Crime is Worcester’s Plague - Gemme Goes Silent
- Main South Community Taking Proactive Approach to Crime Fighting
- Worcester Emerges As Leader In Handling Juvenile Crime
- Crime-Counting Controversy on New England’s College Campuses
- Travis Rowley: The Hate-Crime Hoax–A Liberal Pastime
- MA’s Most Violent Cities and Towns: FBI Crime Data
- Worcester Districts Debate Efficacy Of Pricey Crime-Fighting Tool
- Budget Hearing In Worcester Zeroes in on Crime Lab Scandals
- Leonardo Angiulo: Changes on the Horizon for Crime Scene Investigation
- NEW: Attorney General Wants $1 Billion for Crime Victims
- NEW: Public Health Commissioner Resigns Following Crime Lab Controversy
- The Massive Turnaround for Blackstone Valley Tech Lacrosse
- “Rally for the Valley” to Promote Blackstone Valley as a National Park
- CMass Lacrosse Notebook: Blackstone Valley’s First Playoff Win
- Julia Steiny: Blackstone Valley School’s Nosedive is a Cautionary Tale
- Central MA’s #14 School: Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical
- Blackstone Valley License Plate funds projects across the state
- Julia Steiny: Blackstone Valley Boasts a ‘Kick Butt’ School
- NEW: Blackstone Valley Chamber Supports Slots in Millbury
- PowerPlayer: Blackstone Valley Chamber’s Jeannie Hebert
- Blackstone Valley Education Foundation Awarded $55,000 Manufacturing Grant
- Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce to Present Sunrise Seminar
- Don’t Miss: Blackstone CanalFest September 6
- Blackstone Valley Tech Star To Play Football at D1 Bryant Univ.
- Worcester’s Blackstone Cuil Combines Folk and Celtic Styles
- Blackstone Valley Tech Shuts Out Bay Path for Division 6 Title
- NEW: Sales and Motivation Author to Speak at Blackstone Chamber Breakfast
- NEW: Blackstone Valley Home and Business Expo This Weekend
- Sold-Out Blackstone Valley Polar Express Adds More Dates
- NEW: Woonsocket Residents Warned To Stay Away from Blackstone River
- Special Tours Coming to Blackstone River
- 5 Weekend Musts: Blackstone Celebration, Free Museums + More
- Blackstone #51: Central MA’s Best Communities
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It