4-year-old girl drowned by NYC mom was ‘scared to go back to mommy’ before she, siblings were killed: father
A 4-year-old girl, Liliana Stephens Merdy, expressed fear of returning to her mother before being drowned along with her siblings by their mother, Erin Merdy. Erin Merdy was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after confessing to the tragic drownings, which were attributed to her struggles with postpartum depression. The children's father shared heartbreaking details about their last moments, highlighting the family's ongoing grief and loss.
- ▪Liliana Stephens Merdy told her father she was scared to go back to her mother before her death.
- ▪Erin Merdy was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for drowning her three children.
- ▪The tragic incident occurred in September 2022 and was linked to Merdy's postpartum depression.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Metro 4-year-old girl drowned by NYC mom was ‘scared to go back to mommy’ before she, siblings were killed: father By Jordan Donegan and Kyle Schnitzer Published May 20, 2026, 7:46 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google A 4-year-old girl who was drowned by her mother off Coney Island had tragically begged not to be sent home — telling her father she was “scared to go back to mommy” before she was killed alongside her siblings, he revealed Wednesday at his ex’s sentencing. Shamir Small, the father of Liliana Stephens Merdy, said his daughter was fearful of going to see mom Erin Merdy, and he heartbreakingly shared that he told her, “I hope I see you again” before the child was brutally killed by her troubled mom in Sept. 2022.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from New York Post
