The tragedy surrounding the death of 24-year-old Erica Bader began to unfold in late October when her body was discovered wrapped in a blanket in a wooded area of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. As detectives from the Pawtucket and Central Falls Police Departments stepped in to investigate, the evidence quickly revealed that her death was not an isolated incident, but the result of a terrifying period of captivity and violence.
Court proceedings and detective testimony painted a devastating picture of Bader’s final days. According to responding officers, her body showed severe physical trauma, including a broken jaw and a broken wrist, alongside signs of prolonged distress, such as a shaved head and being severely underweight. Surveillance footage recovered near the dumping site captured a vehicle arriving in the woods and multiple individuals unloading and moving her remains. Family members later shared that Bader had been trapped and held against her will inside a home, recounting how she had once attempted to run away, only to be dragged back inside by her captors.
By late November, a joint law enforcement operation led to the arrest of eight individuals linked to her kidnapping and murder. Prosecutors charged five core suspects—Andrew Cornell, 28; Joshua Brunelle, 35; Elizabeth Durand, 41; Stephanie Bletzer, 37; and Brittney Terpening, 34—with murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy. All five were ordered held without bail during their initial court appearances. Three additional individuals—Christopher Kordalewski, 22; Joanne Miller, 26; and Cheryl Blakely, 36—were charged with felony counts of kidnapping, conspiracy, and failure to report a death, and were placed on $30,000 surety bail.
As the case moves through the Rhode Island judicial system, grand jury indictments have formalized the charges against all eight defendants. Law enforcement authorities continue to hold further investigative details closely to protect the integrity of the ongoing court proceedings.
The case, which centers on the death of Erica Bader (also known as Erica C. Bader, age 24, from Central Falls), has expanded significantly from the five suspects initially reported. The details provided by two Pawtucket Police detectives painted a grim picture of the conditions leading to and following the discovery of the body.
1. The Discovery and Condition of the Victim
One detective who responded to the Pawtucket wooded scene where Bader was found testified that her body:
-
Was wrapped in a blanket.
-
Appeared severely underweight.
-
Had a shaved head.
-
Showed visible injuries, which included a broken jaw and a broken wrist.
2. Surveillance and the Dumping of Remains
Additional court testimony referenced graphic details and evidence presented to the judge:
-
Graphic images of the victim were shown to the court.
-
Investigators obtained footage they believe captures:
-
A vehicle arriving at the precise location where the body was allegedly dumped.
-
Several people moving her remains from the vehicle to the disposal site.
-
leaders -
The investigation is ongoing, and police have stated that additional details will not be released to avoid compromising future proceedings.
The five murder suspects were due for a felony screening or pre-trial hearing in December 2025 and were held without bail. The remaining three suspects were due back in court in early 2026.
-
