CENTRAL FALLS, RI – Eight people have been charged in connection with the death of a 24-year-old Rhode Island woman whose body was discovered dumped in the woods after she was allegedly held captive by the very people she lived with.
Erica Bader of Central Falls was found dead in a wooded area of Pawtucket. Investigators believe she was killed elsewhere and her remains were transported to the remote location where they were eventually discovered.
Five defendants face the most serious charges of murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy: Andrew Cornell, 28; Joshua Brunelle, 35; Elizabeth Durand, 41; Stephanie Bletzer, 37; and Brittney Terpening, 34. All five were ordered held without bail and are scheduled to appear in court this week.
Three additional suspects face lesser charges of kidnapping, conspiracy, and failure to report a death. Christopher Kordalewski, 22; Joanne Miller, 26; and Cheryl Blakely, 36 each received $30,000 bail.
The circumstances surrounding Bader’s death paint a disturbing picture of her final days. According to family members, she was living with several of the defendants when the situation turned deadly.
“They dragged her in, pulled her in that house and held her hostage, basically,” Bader’s stepmother told reporters, describing what she believes happened to her stepdaughter.
Law enforcement had attempted to locate Bader before her death. Officers conducted a welfare check in April but were unable to find her at that time.
The residence where Bader lived with some of the defendants came under scrutiny again in November when the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals removed 46 cats and four dogs from the home. Officials cited deplorable living conditions during the animal rescue operation.
Family members have indicated that Bader was pregnant at the time of her death, though authorities have not publicly confirmed this claim. If true, it adds another layer of tragedy to an already horrific case.
The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare to present their case against the eight defendants. Additional details about the circumstances of Bader’s captivity and death are expected to emerge as the legal proceedings move forward.
