Three young children were found unconscious on the shoreline in Brooklyn's Coney Island early Monday and later died, while their mother, who was discovered shoeless on the boardwalk two miles away, is being questioned, authorities said.
According to the preliminary investigation, a concerned family member called 911 around 1:40 a.m. out of fear the 30-year-old mother, who lives in a Neptune Avenue apartment, could have harmed her three small children, NYPD officials said at an early morning news briefing. Officers responded to the Neptune Avenue apartment the concerned relative had identified.
No one answered the door when they knocked, but it was unlocked, officials said. Cops encountered a man in the building who identified himself as the father of one of the three children. He expressed the same concerns as the 911 caller, NYPD officials said, and told police he believed the mother and children were on the boardwalk in Coney Island.
A full-scale search commenced, with officers canvassing the boardwalk, beach, streets and local hospitals.
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After about 90 minutes, another 911 call came in regarding the case and officers responded to Brighton 6th Street and Riegelmann Boardwalk, the NYPD said. They found the mother, identified by family members as Erin Merdy, in what cops described as a disturbed state on the boardwalk. She was barefoot and soaking wet. The woman had some family with her but not the three children, police said.
The search intensified, with aviation and harbor units being called in and reinforcements to canvass the shoreline. The children were found unconscious at the water's edge by 35th Street around 4:45 a.m., about three hours after the initial 911 call.
Life-saving efforts began but the children were pronounced dead at Coney Island Hospital. Relatives identified the children as Zachary, 7, Liliana, 4 and Oliver, 3 months.
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Police say the mother was not communicative with officers who found her at the boardwalk. She was taken to the stationhouse for questioning. Cops say they're looking into whether the children were in the water before they were found on the shore and asking any potential witnesses to come forward.
Neighbors reached by the woman's home said they didn't know her too personally. One man said the children used to ask to pet his dog. A woman talked about how tragic the situation was and lamented the mother's alleged mental health issues.
A security supervisor for the mother's building said the family had moved in less than a year ago. NYPD Chief of Department Kenneth Corey said the mother had not been reported to authorities previously for abusing or neglecting her children.
A decision hadn’t been made about what criminal charges she might face.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
