CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn (WABC) — A Brooklyn mother accused of drowning her three children could face charges Wednesday as an investigation into a possible motive continues.
The medical examiner on Tuesday said the three children died as a result of drowning and their deaths have been ruled a homicide.
On Tuesday, Erin Murdy, 30, remained hospitalized at NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn. If she fails to be brought to court, indictment is possible.
Authorities are investigating whether postpartum depression, which led to the postpartum psychosis, may have played a role.
Police say she told family members she drowned her children, but would not speak to investigators.
“She hasn’t said anything yet,” said New York Police Department Chief Kenneth Corey.
The bodies of her three children – 7-year-old Zachary Murdy, 4-year-old Leelana Murdy and 3-month-old Oliver Bondaroff – were found on the shore of Coney Island Beach after a lengthy search.
Police first became aware of the children’s disappearance early Monday morning when a concerned family member called to say someone might have harmed them.
When officers arrived at the home on Neptune Avenue, a man who identified himself as the father answered the door and told police he believed the mother was with the children on the boardwalk.
Officers then began canvassing the waterfront and surrounding area for any sign of the mother or children.
Ninety minutes later, police were called by family members who were with Erin Murdy on the boardwalk, about two miles from where the children were found.
“Mother was soaked through and through,” Corey said. “Whether she was in the rain or she was in the water is all speculation at this point. She was wet, she was barefoot, and she was not communicative with the officers.”
The search for the children intensified after Erin Murdy was found alone and police dispatched a helicopter and marine units.
The children were found washed ashore shortly after 4:30 a.m. on a quiet stretch of beach about 13 blocks from the stadium, home to the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team.
Efforts to revive them at a nearby hospital failed, Corey said.
Erin Murdy has a history of harassment and aggravated harassment that did not result in charges, but she has no prior arrests and no history of emotional distress.
Police say the actions appear to be premeditated and not something that happened out of the blue, and detectives are looking into her past and interviewing neighbors and relatives to determine what happened.
She has not yet been charged.
Eyewitness News has also learned that she was served with an eviction notice, claiming that the rent had not been paid since last year.
Police are asking anyone who saw the mother and children anytime last night or early this morning to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish 1-888- 57-PISTA (74782).
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