Defense Rests in Bella Bond Murder Trial; Closing Arguments Tuesday

Rachelle Bond's live-in boyfriend, Michael McCarthy, is charged with first-degree murder in the young girl's death

The jury should get the case on Tuesday in the Bella Bond murder trial.

After 15 days of testimony, the defense rested its case on Monday morning - without Michael McCarthy taking the stand.

McCarthy is charged with first-degree murder in the 2-year-old girl's death. He had been living with Bella Bond's mother, Rachelle Bond, at the time.

The toddler's body was found washed ashore on Deer Island in Winthrop in June 2015. She was known only as "Baby Doe" until three months later, when a tip led to the arrests of McCarthy and Rachelle Bond. 

Under a plea deal, Bond testified for the prosecution - accusing McCarthy of killing her daughter in their Dorchester apartment and then dumping the body into the water in South Boston.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday. Then the jury will begin its deliberations.

McCarthy faces up to life in prison if convicted.

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