Brooklyn woman sentenced to 20 years to life for drowning three children in 2022 Coney Island incident
Erin Merdy, 34, was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the 2022 drowning deaths of her three children—7-year-old Zachary, 4-year-old Liliana, and 3-month-old Oliver—off the Coney Island shoreline. The incident occurred on September 12, 2022, after family members alerted police due to concerns about Merdy's mental state and potential harm to the children. Merdy was found barefoot and wet on the beach, confessing that the children were gone. The medical examiner ruled the deaths homicides by drowning. While prosecutors emphasized the irreversible loss, Merdy cited struggles with postpartum depression, a factor noted by both family and court statements. Victim impact testimony highlighted the emotional toll on surviving relatives.
While both sources agree on core facts surrounding the crime and sentencing, New York Post provides a more layered and emotionally resonant account by incorporating victim impact, defendant testimony, and mental health context. NBC News maintains a more restrained, prosecutorial tone focused on institutional responses. The divergence reflects different journalistic priorities: legal reporting versus human-interest storytelling.
- ✓ Erin Merdy, 34, was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for drowning her three children in 2022.
- ✓ The children were Zachary (7), Liliana (4), and Oliver (3 months).
- ✓ The incident occurred near Coney Island on September 12, 2022, in the early hours of the morning.
- ✓ Merdy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder charges.
- ✓ The medical examiner ruled the deaths homicides by drowning.
- ✓ Family members expressed concern and contacted police before the bodies were found.
- ✓ Merdy was found barefoot and wet on the beach, two miles from where she lived, and confessed to police that the children were gone and she was sorry.
- ✓ Postpartum depression was cited as a factor in Merdy’s actions.
Victim impact emphasis
Does not include personal victim statements beyond the District Attorney.
Features detailed, emotional impact statements from the father (Shamir Small) and uncle (Jim Kobal), including the child’s reported fear of returning to her mother.
Defendant's mental health narrative
Mentions postpartum depression only in passing, attributed to relatives.
Centers Merdy’s mental health struggles, including her own courtroom statements about being on 'autopilot' and her work with other women on Rikers Island.
Portrayal of Merdy’s demeanor
Describes her as soaking wet and barefoot, repeating 'the children were gone and that she was sorry.'
Adds that she was wearing a bathrobe and appeared dazed, providing more sensory detail.
Contextual timeline
Notes the call from relatives and police response.
Specifies that family members were concerned about Merdy being drunk and potentially harming the children.
NBC News
Framing: NBC News frames the event primarily as a criminal justice outcome, emphasizing the legal consequences and official statements from the prosecution. The narrative centers on the finality of the sentencing and the gravity of the crime, with a focus on the victims and the irreversible loss suffered by their families.
Tone: Formal, somber, and prosecutorial. The tone is measured and fact-driven, with a strong emphasis on official sources such as the District Attorney’s statement.
Balanced Reporting: The article presents facts without overt editorializing, citing official statements and police findings.
"No sentence can fully measure the loss of a seven-year-old, a four-year-old and a three-month-old baby, or the grief their loved ones will carry forever,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement."
Proper Attribution: All claims are attributed to official sources (e.g., prosecutors, medical examiner), ensuring factual grounding.
"The city medical examiner’s office ruled their deaths homicides by drowning."
Comprehensive Sourcing: Relies on prosecutors, police reports, and medical findings, avoiding speculation.
"The evidence against Merdy included video showing her walking toward the ocean with the children just before 1 a.m., according to the criminal complaint."
Omission: Does not include personal victim impact statements from family members beyond the DA, nor does it explore the defendant’s mental health in depth.
"A message left with Merdy’s attorney was not returned."
New York Post
Framing: New York Post frames the event through an emotional and personal lens, highlighting the victim impact, particularly from the father and uncle, and contextualizing the crime within the mother’s mental health struggles. The narrative emphasizes the tragic interpersonal dynamics preceding the killings.
Tone: Emotional, narrative-driven, and personal. The tone is more expressive and focuses on human suffering and moral condemnation.
Appeal to Emotion: Uses direct quotes from grieving family members to evoke empathy and horror.
"The last thing Lily said to me and my mother — which will forever haunt me — was ‘I’m scared to go back to mommy, and want to stay here with you and grandma’"
Narrative Framing: Constructs a story around the final moments before the crime, focusing on the child’s fear and the father’s regret.
"Shamir Small... 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'"
Editorializing: Uses emotionally charged language like 'heinous monster' and 'special place in hell' without distancing from the speaker’s perspective.
"There will forever be a hole in our hearts because of this heinous monster,” Kobal said"
Framing by Emphasis: Highlights the mother’s mental health struggles and her own statements in court, giving space to her explanation despite condemnation.
"Merdy... claimed that she couldn’t remember most of what happened on the night of the deaths."
Vague Attribution: Uses phrases like 'which she said pushed her over the edge' without specifying whether this was stated in court or by third parties.
"The tragic killings stemmed from Merdy’s struggle with mental health, specifically postpartum depression, which she said pushed her over the edge"
New York Post
Provides the most complete coverage by integrating legal facts, emotional impact, defendant’s personal statements, and contextual details about mental health and family dynamics.
NBC News
Offers a solid factual foundation with official sources but omits personal narratives and deeper context about the defendant’s mental state and victim perspectives beyond the prosecution.
Brooklyn mother who drowned 3 kids on Coney Island beach sentenced to 20 years to life
4-year-old girl drowned by NYC mom was ‘scared to go back to mommy’ before she, siblings were killed: father