Crews find 2 additional dead animals while cleaning Blackstone home

BLACKSTONE, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Officials in hazmat suits decontaminated a Blackstone home Saturday and Sunday while a memorial for three dead infants found inside grew on the sidewalk.

All of the facts in this case remain unclear, but what is known is that 31-year-old Erika Murray was arrested Thursday in connection with the deplorable conditions of the St. Paul Street home and later arraigned on charges of fetal death concealment, witness intimidation, permitting substantial injury to a child and more. The bodies of three infants and skeletal remains of animals were found in the vermin-infested home, stacked with used diapers and other trash. One was discovered in a closet on Wednesday and the other two were found Thursday; a medical examiner is working to figure out if they were newborns or fetuses.

Approximately 30 dumpsters have been brought in to clean up the debris inside the home. Over the weekend, workers cleaning the home found another dead dog and cat inside.

Murray has two children that she acknowledges via Facebook, a 13-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy, who both appear to be healthy and enrolled in school. On her Facebook page, Murray posts photos of the two children and appears to have a happy family life saying things like, "I had Kayla at 18 and Nick at 21 and they are my greatest accomplishment and most of the time bring the most happiness."

However, when authorities received a complaint about neglected children living at the home, the Department of Children and Families became involved and took custody of 13-year-old Kayla and 10-year-old Nick as well as a 3-year-old and 6-month-old. It is confirmed that Kayla and Nick are in fact Murray's, but there are no birth records for the youngest two children.

According to the Boston Globe, Murray allegedly hid and ignored the two youngest in her family and told investigators that she gave birth to them at home. A birth certificate for those two children could not be found, and Murray reportedly told investigators that neither one has ever seen a doctor.

A relative of Murray's described her to the Globe as a "woman who wears baggy, but clean clothes, and speaks with devotion about her life as a mother."

DCF confirmed that they took custody of all four children on Aug. 28 after receiving the 51A report alleging neglect from Blackstone Police. 10-year-old Nick had gone to a neighbor to ask how to get a baby to stop crying, according to the DA. The neighbor decided to help and found the baby covered in feces, unsupervised by an adult. She then reported the situation to police, prompting DCF's involvement.

The children were removed from the home about an hour after learning about the complaint in last August; the residence wasn't searched again until the evening of September 10 when officials arrived on the scene in hazmat suits. The older children were interviewed in that two week span, and a search warrant was obtained leading to the discovery of the remains.

In a statement released Friday, DCF stated that they have not had an open case with the family in the past, however, a 51A report was filed in 2007 but was "unsupported and therefore no case was opened."

According to neighbors and public records, Murray lives at the home with her boyfriend Raymond Rivera. Details about his potential involvement in this case have not been released, but he has not been charged with anything.

Some neighbors complained of a foul odor coming from the house and a friend of Murray's teenage daughter said the 31-year-old was determined to keep visitors out of the house.

Mail carrier, Pam Webster, told the AP that the house was dirty and the kids usually ate breakfast on the porch.

Murray was held without bail at her arraignment Friday in Uxbridge District Court. Her court-appointed defender, Keith Halpern, maintains that she was mentally ill and says she wouldn't have been able to live in those conditions if she wasn't.

Officials decontaminated the condemned home Saturday, as a memorial for the three dead infants found continued to grow.

Cox Media Group