Eight defendants now face murder and kidnapping charges in a horrific case that exposes how government welfare systems catastrophically failed to protect a vulnerable homeless woman from predators who held her captive and killed her.
Story Highlights
- Five defendants charged with murder after 24-year-old Erica Bader found dead in Rhode Island woods
- Victim was homeless and forced to live with “total strangers” who allegedly held her hostage
- April welfare check failed to locate Bader, representing critical system breakdown
- Residence contained 50 neglected animals in horrid conditions, showing broader dysfunction
System Failure Enabled Deadly Exploitation
The tragic death of Erica Bader represents a complete breakdown of the safety net supposed to protect America’s most vulnerable citizens. The 24-year-old Central Falls woman was forced into homelessness and had “no other place to go” except to live with complete strangers.
When her family requested a welfare check in April 2025, police conducted the check but failed to locate her at the residence. This missed opportunity proved fatal, as Bader’s body was discovered in Pawtucket woods six months later.
Predators Exploited Vulnerable Woman’s Desperation
According to family members, Bader became trapped in a house of horrors where she was subjected to physical abuse and prevented from leaving. Her stepmother Crystal Smith revealed that Bader “tried to run away one time, she didn’t get far.
They dragged her in, pulled her in that house and held her hostage, basically.” The defendants allegedly exploited her desperate housing situation to confine and abuse someone who had nowhere else to turn for shelter.
Five defendants—Andrew Cornell, Joshua Brunelle, Elizabeth Durand, Stephanie Bletzer, and Brittney Terpening—face the most serious charges of murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy.
Three others are charged with kidnapping, conspiracy, and failure to report a death. The differentiation in charges suggests varying levels of involvement in this coordinated criminal enterprise that targeted a defenseless woman.
Shocking Living Conditions Reveal House of Dysfunction
The Central Falls residence where Bader was held and killed housed 46 cats and four dogs in what the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals described as “horrid conditions.”
This environmental chaos reflects the complete disregard for basic welfare—both human and animal—that characterized the defendants’ lifestyle. The discovery of dozens of neglected animals provides disturbing context for how these individuals treated the vulnerable beings under their control.
Police Chief Colonel Anthony Roberson emphasized the coordinated investigation, stating that the arrests “reflect a thorough, coordinated investigation carried out with urgency.”
However, the case raises serious questions about why initial welfare check protocols failed to locate Bader when her family expressed concern months before her death. This systemic failure allowed predators to continue exploiting someone who should have been protected.
Justice Delayed for Defenseless Victim
Family members report that Bader was allegedly pregnant at the time of her death, though police have not confirmed this detail. Her aunt and stepmother have publicly described the abuse she suffered, including claims that she was attacked and sexually assaulted.
The five defendants charged with murder are being held without bail, while the three lesser-charged defendants received $30,000 surety bail. All defendants were arraigned in Providence District Court, with murder defendants scheduled to return to court on December 2.
Sources:
Authorities charge 8 in connection to the murder of Central Falls woman Erica Bader
8 charged in death of Rhode Island woman whose body was found dumped in woods
8 people charged Erica Bader murder kidnapping
