Second Autopsy Allowed in Bella Bond Death Case

A second autopsy will be conducted on the body of Bella Bond as investigators continue to seek the exact cause of the child’s death.

The mother of Bella and her boyfriend appeared in Dorchester Municipal Court for a brief hearing Tuesday in connection to the death of “Baby Doe,” whose remains were found in a trash bag on a Boston beach in June.

While at the status hearing, defense attorneys for Rachelle Bond and Michael McCarthy, were granted court permission to conduct their own autopsy of the two-year-old girl.

Bond is charged with being an accessory after the fact in the death of her daughter. McCarthy is charged with the murder of Bella.

According to investigators, McCarthy allegedly killed the child at an apartment on Maxwell Street in Dorchester. He then stored the child’s remains in a refrigerator before allegedly dumping her remains in Boston Harbor.

A woman walking her dog along a Deer Island beach stumbled upon Bella’s remains on June 25.

Investigators poured through thousands of leads over the three months that followed the discovery of the toddler before uncovering her identity.

McCarthy is being held without bail. Bond is being held on $1 million bail. She previously pleaded not guilty to the charge against her. McCarthy’s attorneys said he had no role in the child’s death.

The second autopsy will be conducted by experts hired by the defense team, according to Bond’s attorney. The state will oversee the matter.

A probable cause hearing is slated to take place on Nov. 19.