CENTRAL FALLS, RI – A shocking tragedy has sent waves of grief and outrage through Rhode Island as eight people now face serious criminal charges following the brutal death of Erica Bader, a young pregnant woman whose mutilated body was discovered in a wooded area late last month.
The 24-year-old woman was found dead in Pawtucket on October 27, bringing a harrowing conclusion to a case that has left family, friends, and an entire community reeling. Authorities allege Bader suffered a violent attack before her death, while her family says she was sexually assaulted, murdered, and abandoned.
Five suspects—Andrew Cornell, 28; Joshua Brunelle, 35; Elizabeth Durand, 41; Stephanie Bletzer, 37; and Brittney Terpening, 34—have each been charged with both murder and kidnapping. Three others, Christopher Kordalewski, 22; Joanne Miller, 26; and Cheryl Blakely, 36, are facing charges including kidnapping, conspiracy, and failing to report a death.
The gruesome discovery of Bader’s remains has prompted deep sorrow and public condemnation. Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera extended sympathies to Bader’s family, calling the violent ordeal “heartbreaking” and “horrific,” and urging the community to support those touched by the crime.
According to her relatives, Bader barely knew those who have now been charged in her death. Family members recount that she met the group while seeking a place to stay, not realizing the danger she would face. Once inside the Central Falls residence, they say she was abused, and several attempts to leave were thwarted by force.
One family member described a desperate effort to escape that was cut short when Bader was dragged back inside and held against her will. “They kept her there, she had no way out,” a loved one recounted, painting a picture of a young woman isolated from help and options.
Law enforcement has thus far declined to disclose the specific circumstances or cause of Bader’s death. However, her family maintains she was attacked while pregnant, making the case all the more disturbing for those close to her.
Neighbors say that a welfare check was conducted at the home in April, but Bader was not present at the time. The timeline of her disappearance and death remains unclear, shrouding the investigation in further uncertainty.
After her body was found, officials executed a search warrant at the property. Conditions there were so dire that authorities rescued 46 cats and four dogs from squalor, further evidence of the neglect and darkness surrounding the residence.
The eight individuals implicated in Bader’s death are now in custody, awaiting further legal proceedings. For her family, the pain remains raw, and the search for answers continues. The community is left grappling with the reality of a tragedy that has exposed hidden dangers in their midst and claimed two lives.