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Vigil held for Bella Bond 2 years after body found on Deer Island

DEER ISLAND — June 25 marks two years since Bella Bond’s body was discovered on Deer Island. She was known as ‘Baby Doe’ for months before investigators learned her identity.

Sunday night, people gathered at a memorial for her to hold a candlelight vigil on the somber anniversary. The group that organized the vigil has held several there before, but say this one had even more meaning.

“It’s just really sad and devastating and you don’t really ever want to hear anything like this happen and for it to happen so close to home…” said Jessica Roldan of Revere.

After she was found, investigators couldn’t identify her, and without a name, she became known as ‘Baby Doe.’

Police asked anyone and everyone to share a computerized image of what the girl may have looked like and 85 days later, ‘Baby Doe’ became Bella Bond.

“It was terrible, I couldn’t believe it. My daughter was two, the same age as Bella was and it was just a tragedy,” said Joe Fish of Winthrop.

Their daughter is now four, the same age Bella would have been.

“She just looked so much like my daughter. As a parent, it just hits you a different way,” said Alexis Fish.

They, like most at the vigil, didn’t know Bella or her family.

“But you feel like you did because you give out the flyers, you talk to people, you come to vigils,” said Cheryl Michelotti of Malden.

And they’re following the trial of her mother’s former boyfriend Michael McCarthy closely.

There are a lot of opinions about McCarthy and Bella’s mom, Rachelle Bond. Many say they’re disappointed that Bond received a plea deal to testify against her ex; it allows her to walk free after the trial.

“The jury, everyone is saying prayers because that’s the hardest job in the world to decide whatever they have to do. I don’t know, I’m just lost for words,” said Michelotti.

While they have been demanding justice for Bella, they say true justice may never happen.

“Definitely not, I think, but the other side of this says remembering because whether there is justice or now, we will remember her,” said Roldan.

A jury ended their third day of deliberations in the case Friday with no verdict yet. Jury deliberations will resume Monday.

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It's been a year since Bella Bond was found on Deer Island