Deaths of 3 children found in Coney Island surf ruled homicides

Three children pronounced dead after cops found them unconscious in the Coney Island surf early Monday drowned and their deaths were deemed homicides, a spokeswoman for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner said Tuesday.

Cops responding to a 911 call reporting a woman might be trying to harm her children found Zachary Merdy, 7, Lilana Merdy, 4, and Oliver Bondarev, 3 months, unconscious in the water on the shoreline near West 35th Street and Riegelmann Boardwalk, investigators said.

Their mother, Erin Merdy, 30, of Brooklyn, was found by police, shoeless but clothed and wet, about two miles away from where cops discovered her children.

All three children were rushed to nearby Coney Island Hospital shortly after 4:40 a.m. Monday where they were pronounced dead. The medical examiner's office released its findings after conducting autopsies Tuesday. Homicide in medical examiner cases essentially means death caused by another person’s actions but is not a ruling on criminal responsibility.

Erin Merdy was taken into custody by cops but officials said she made no statements and was then transported to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. As of late Tuesday, Merdy had not been charged with any crimes in connection with the deaths of the children, according to the NYPD.

A law enforcement source said the children were found floating in the surf by cops who had pressed a massive search using police harbor and aviation units.

On Monday, Dine Stephen, an aunt of Merdy, said in a telephone interview that her niece was having mental health problems following the birth of her youngest child. She was also reportedly behind in her rent and facing eviction.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.com

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.