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Boston — The father of a 2-year-old girl whose body was found on a Boston-area beach in June says the mother has told him her boyfriend killed the child because he believed she was possessed by demons. Joseph Amoroso, aged 32, spoke in interviews on Saturday with The Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. Bella Bond’s body was found on June 25.

A composite image of the girl, dubbed Baby Doe during the investigation, had been viewed by millions as authorities tried to identify her. After Boston police received a tip, a search warrant was executed on Thursday at the apartment of her mother, Rachelle Bond.

Amoroso says Bond told him her boyfriend, Michael McCarthy, fatally injured Bella, and that she died weeks before her body was found in a trash bag washed up on the beach. Amoroso said Bond told him that McCarthy kept reminding her afterward that Bella was a “child of Satan”.

Amoroso says he believes Bond has told him the truth and he doesn’t believe she would have harmed Bella.

Prosecutors and police announced on Friday that McCarthy, 35, has been charged with murder, and Bond, aged 40, as an accessory after the fact. Both were to be arraigned yesterday.

McCarthy’s attorney, Jonathan Shapiro, declined to comment on Sunday on the case except to say that he expects McCarthy, who has been hospitalised, to be in court yesterday.

Bond’s attorney, Janice Bassil, did not immediately return a message on Sunday seeking comment.

Prosecutors have said they’ll wait until the arraignment to release further details. — AFP