Three children have died and their mother is in custody after they were found unconscious on a Coney Island Beach.
Police were called to an apartment on Neptune Avenue, Brooklyn, at 1.40am after a call from a concerned family member at a different location.
‘Bright’ Zachary Mendy, 7, was one of three siblings who was found dead on a beach in Brookly, on MOnday
They reported that they believed Erin Merdy, 30, may have harmed her three children, and officers attended but could not find the family.
At 3.15am they recieved a second call of a woman in ‘distress’ walking around barefoot on the boardwalk of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.
Merdy claimed that her three children were missing, before they were found unresponsive on the beach two miles away.
‘Bubbly’ Zachary Merdy, 7, Liliana Merdy, 4 and and their three-month-old baby sister were rushed to hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.
Merdy was initially taken to the police precinct, but has since been driven to hospital in an ambulance wiht a sheet covering her head.
Around eight officers are currently outside of her apartment, awaiting a warrant, and told DailyMail.com that it was an active crime scene.
Officers hid Merdy with a sheet as she was transferred to a hospital from the precinct in the back of an ambulance
Erin Merdy, 30, reportedly drowned her three children on Coney Island Beach in the early hours of the morning
Around eight detectives are currently awaiting an arrest warrant to gain access to Merdy’s apartment, which they are calling an active crime scene’
Police were called at 3.15am to reports of a woman, 30, in ‘distress’ walking around barefoot on the boardwalk of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn
Cops have responded to six past domestic incidents involving her, including one on July 2 where she refused to hand over the children to her husband.
Alfred Brown, Zacks football coach, said the last time he saw the little boy was on June 25, when he gave him a tropy for participation.
He told DailyMail.com: ‘This year he did not play, he was supposed to stay with his dad over the summer.
‘He’d always say coach coach coach, to not hear him say it today is just heartbreaking.
‘I called him Zack Attack. His mom looked pretty normal but we can all mask our problems.
‘Zack was very bubbly, bright, giggly and full of life. The smile on his face was worth the world to me.’
Joseph, 60, a maintenance worker in the building where Merdy lives, said: ‘ I saw the young lady this morning, and she was crying for whatever happened.
‘I told her to be strong and get past the pain. She was walking around the first floor shortly after dawn.
‘I’m speechless to go and drown your children I wonder what was on her mind and what led up to that.
‘People love their children, was she overwhelmed by the responsibility? It’s just a sad situation.’
Victor Rodrigez, 54, another neighbour, added: ‘I used to see her all the time, her kids would alawys ask if they could pet my dog.
‘Everything seemed fine with her but when covid hit she looked depressed. She wasn’t so friendly anymore. And kept to herself.
‘It’s devestatigng especially when you know the kids. They were very sweet and respectful they seemed happy kids – not a care in the world.
‘I think covid had something to do with it. Before covid and after covid it was like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde – two different people.’
In a press conference a spokesman for the NYPD confirmed officers searched the area for 90 minutes looking for the children and their mother.
Officers confirmed that there had not been a history of abuse or neglect against the children in a press conference
The father of one of the children reportedly told officers ather apartment block, pictured, that he was concerned for their safety, after their mother made several statements saying she would harm them
She reportedly claimed that her three children were missing, before they were found unresponsive on the beach three miles away
Around eight officers are currently outside of her apartment, awaiting a warrant, and told DailyMail.com that it was an active crime scene
The children, a seven-year-old boy, four-year-old girl, and three-month-old baby girl were rushed to hospital but pronounced dead on arrival
Police attended the apartment, which was unlocked, and the father of one of the children reportedly told officers he was concerned for their safety, after their mother made several statements saying she would harm them.
Officers found the mother with additional family members at aroudn 3am, and say that she was ‘soaking wet’.
They are unable to confirm if she was wet due to the rain or being submerged in the waters.
She is currently not communicating with officers who are attempting to interview her.
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information on the tragedy to come frowards.
They added that there were no known prior instances of abuse or neglect against the children.
Marine and air emergency services were called in to canvass the shoreline for the three children.
Officers attempted to perform CPR on the three children before they were rushed to hosptial befpre being pronounced dead.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk