Boyfriend of 'Baby Doe's' mother held without bail; mom's bail set at $1M

Little Bella Bond was allegedly killed by her mother's boyfriend because he thought she was possessed and "it was her time to die," a prosecutor told a judge at a Monday bail hearing.

Bella's mother, Rachelle Bond, wearing a zippered hoodie, and the boyfriend, Michael McCarthy, wearing a button-down, appeared in a Boston court for the proceeding. They watched from behind a glass partition as a judge granted a prosecutor's request that McCarthy be held without bail. The judge also set bail for Bond at $1 million "to ensure her appearance."

They both pleaded not guilty.

Bella's father, Joe Amoroso, who never met his daughter in person, sat on the front row, appearing to compose himself, tensing his jaw and pursing his lips at times. His face became flush as details of the case were relayed to the judge.

Amoroso told reporters he knew Bond didn't kill their daughter and said a track mark on Bond's neck leads him to believe she was sedated against her will because he doesn't see how she could have injected herself.

"I was with her for quite some time and I know more about Rachelle than a lot of people do," he said.

'I'll never see my daughter again'

Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney David Deakin explained how a woman walking her dog found the girl June 25 in a plastic contractor bag on a rocky shoreline in the Boston Harbor after the bag drew the attention of her pet. Inside, authorities found the the child alongside two blankets, Deakin said.

A lifelong friend of McCarthy's, who had previously lived with McCarthy and Bond, told authorities that the pair had claimed that the state Department of Children and Families had taken the girl, Deakin said.

Mother, boyfriend charged in Boston toddler's killing 02:24

The pal was walking with Bond one day when Bond told him that she had recently quit using drugs. When the friend suggested she might be able to get Bella back now that she was clean, Bond broke down in tears, Deakin said, relaying the friend's account.

"I'll never see my daughter again," Bond allegedly told the friend before explaining that McCarthy had killed Bella and that she had helped McCarthy dispose of the body, according to Deakin.

It's unclear exactly how the the toddler who became known as "Baby Doe" died, but in court, Deakin raised the possibility that Bella may have been suffocated, noting that there was no evidence of trauma.

The medical examiner has ruled out all natural causes for the child's death, the prosecutor said. Previously, sources told CNN it appeared McCarthy punched the girl to death.

Image of 'Baby Doe' found dead near Boston moves millions

Couple blames each other

McCarthy, who is not Bella's biological father, and Bond were arrested last week in connection with the death.

On Friday, McCarthy, 35, was charged with murder. Bond, 40, was charged as an accessory to murder after the fact.

The mystery of the girl with big brown eyes and a cherubic face captivated the nation for months.

Boston's 'Baby Doe' identified; mother and man face charges 02:53

Bella Amoroso Bond was just shy of 3 years old.

"For nearly three months, we have endeavored to speak for a true innocent who could not speak for herself," State Police Col. Richard McKeon said last week. "Now we will give her justice."

For forensic artist of 'Baby Doe' image, eyes are turning point

After their arrests, the couple pointed fingers at each other over her death, Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo said.

"It appears as though it was a situation of a boyfriend who was involved and that apparently, I think, mother and boyfriend sort of blaming each other in terms of who harmed the child," he said.

This story was sourced from www.cnn.com