By Lindsey Stokes
Staff Writer

The toddler whose picture was distributed across the country after her body was found in Boston Harbor has been identified.

Police say Bella Bond was two years old when she was allegedly murdered by her mother’s live-in boyfriend, Michael McCarthy.

Prosecutor David Deakin said in late May of this year McCarthy went into Bella’s room to address her “unruly” behavior. The child’s mother, Rachelle Bond, went into the room a short time later and saw McCarthy standing over her unresponsive daughter.

Deakin said McCarthy believed Bella was possessed by demons and had previously locked her in a closet for up to an hour at a time.

The couple then placed the child in a trash bag and dumped her in Boston Harbor. Her body washed up on Deer Island on June 25.

Both Bond and McCarthy were arraigned Monday in Dorchester District Court, McCarthy on murder charges and Bond on charges of accessory after the fact. McCarthy was remanded. Bond was held on $1 million bail.

The pair will be back in court Oct. 20.