Erika Murray arrested - A 31-year-old woman was arrested Thursday after authorities discovered remains of 3 deceased infants inside her Massachusetts home, and retrieved four live kids a month earlier, My Fox Boston has learned.
According to court documents, Erika Murray was arrested Thursday in connection with the filthy conditions of a rodent-infested Blackstone home where dead bodies of three infants were found.
Murray's court-appointed lawyer said Friday that the Massachusetts woman is suffering from mental illness.
Throughout her brief appearance at Worcester District Course in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, Murray was notably quiet and did not speak even once in front of the court, where a not-guilty plea was entered on her behalf amid a series of criminal charges.
Erika Murray was arrested on charges which include fetal death concealment, witness intimidation and animal cruelty.
She appeared in a striped blue sweater in court and was handcuffed as she stared blankly in front of the judge, according to Yahoo! News.
Officials said Murray's home was in "deplorable condition" when they did their investigation there on Wednesday and again on Thursday.
The place was filled with rats, feces and trash, Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said.
The remains of three infants discovered inside Murray's home were examined by a medical professional, but the cause of death of all three is still unknown.
Neighbors of the arrested woman were left stunned after hearing the news about Murray and the decomposing bodies of three infants.
Prior to the discovery of the deceased infants, authorities retrieved four kids from Erica Murray's Blackstone home.
Police said they were summoned to inspect the house last month on a report that crying children could be heard from inside.
Two out of the four were identified to be Murray's own kids while the other two are yet to be identified since their birth records have not been retrieved as of late.
All four kids are currently under the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.
Erika Murray could now face up to 10 years in state prison if proven guilty of the most serious charge filed against her, intimidation of witness.
