Brooklyn Mother Sentenced for Drowning Her Three Children

A woman from Brooklyn, Erin Mardy, who drowned her three children in the Atlantic Ocean near Coney Island’s boardwalk, has received a lengthy prison sentence.

At 34 years old, Mardy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder earlier this year for the tragic deaths of her children: Zachary, age 7; Liliana, age 4; and Oliver, just 3 months old.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez expressed the depth of the tragedy, stating, “No sentence can truly reflect the loss of a 7-year-old, a 4-year-old, or an infant. The grief their loved ones carry will last a lifetime.” He emphasized that while nothing can undo the harm caused, the sentence serves to hold Mardy accountable for her actions.

The district attorney remarked that the way the children lost their lives was “heartbreaking and unimaginable.” On the morning of September 12, 2022, a family member of Mardy alerted authorities, raising concerns about the children’s safety.

Prosecutors reported that Mardy left the beach around 1:25 a.m., heading toward the apartment of the father of her youngest child. Hours later, authorities located Mardy, wet and barefoot, about two miles from where her children had been found.

When questioned, Mardy reportedly expressed remorse, repeatedly saying she was sorry for the loss of her children. Their bodies were discovered on the beach later that day, just off the boardwalk. The medical examiner classified the deaths as homicides resulting from drowning.

Surveillance footage indicated that Mardy walked toward the beach with her children just before 1 a.m. Additionally, Mardy’s mother shared concerns about her daughter’s mental health, suggesting she might have been experiencing postpartum depression.

“I spoke with her yesterday. She mentioned doing laundry and wanting to chat with the kids,” Jacqueline Scott, Mardy’s mother, recounted. “After that, when I called a couple of times, there was no response.”