Autopsy planned on White Cloud baby; no charges filed yet
WHITE CLOUD, Mich. — The body of a 4-month-old girl missing since Saturday was found in her grandparents' basement.
Natallya Rich's remains were found Tuesday night after the child's mother, Brittany Rich, 25, and the mother's boyfriend, Matthew Bradley, 27, were located in Big Rapids, about 20 miles northeast of this city of 1,400, said Heidi Thill, Natallya's grandmother. Bradley was taken into custody, and during questioning he told investigators he hid the baby's body in the basement.
"How could someone do this to a 4-month-old? How could they?" Thill said. "I want him to fry. ... It's too bad we don't have the death penalty."
Michigan abolished capital punishment in 1847 and has had the ban in its state constitution since 1963.
Thill said she had been in the basement Monday, and her husband was down there earlier Tuesday. They did not notice or smell anything unusual.
Natallya lived at the home with her mother, Bradley, and her grandparents.
Newaygo County Prosecutor Robert Springstead said it's too early to tell whether foul play was involved in Natallya's death or whether anyone will be charged in connection with her demise. Authorities are awaiting autopsy results to determine when and how she died.
Bradley initially told investigators that he dropped off Natallya at a babysitter Saturday while Rich was trying to recover from an illness. On Tuesday, police said they were trying to locate the sitter.
Bradley has a history of drug problems and had a warrant out for his arrest on unrelated charges, police said.
He was released from prison in April 2013 after serving two years on a home invasion conviction in Newaygo County. Bradley also has a felony case pending in Newaygo County Circuit Court for carrying a concealed weapon.
Rich also has had drug problems, Thrill said.