GARWOOD -- A borough woman was indicted on third degree neglect charges in the January 2007 death of her daughter, a case in which authorizes say the victim was constantly guarded by parents, given little food, and forced to wear garbage bags for clothing.

Ermina Errico, 62, was indicted on Wednesday, Aug. 26 by Union County Grand Jury in the January 29, 2007 death of her daughter, Emily Errico. Police responded to a 911 call that day and, according to reports, were unable use the front door of the Second Avenue home because it was blocked by bags of trash. Per a release from Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow, the body of 25-year-old Emily Errico was found in a bedroom off the kitchen. At the time, police and Prosecutor's Office officials told the Chronicle that an autopsy had been ordered, but declined to comment further on the death.

According to the indictment, Emily Errico was in full rigor mortis when officers found her, and was wearing a plastic trash bag that had been fashioned into a halter-top, and a pair of sweatpants. The medical examiner's autopsy later revealed that Emily Errico died from a combination of anorexia nervosa and malnutrition, authorities said last week. At the time of her death, Emily was 5'7 and weighed just 97 pounds.

"The autopsy findings support the fact that the victim was in a significantly weakened state that was recognized and ignored by her parents," said Romankow.

Now authorities say Emily Errico spent most of her life fully controlled by her parents, from the amount of food she was given to when she was permitted to leave the house.

Detective Jorge Jiminez of the Union County Homicide Task Force spent several months conducting an investigation into the death of Emily Errico and found, among other things, that the victim was kept in a crib for most of her toddler years and later in life was fed a controlled amount of food by her mother.

"She was never permitted to interact socially with other children," said Romankow. "While she proved to be an exceptionally bright student and graduated from Kean University, she moved home upon graduation and back under the control of her parents."

According to court documents, even while she was a student and lived on campus at Kean University, her father, Edward, would bring her meals on a daily basis at the behest of Ermina Errico. Fully dependent upon her family, Emily moved back to her parent's home after college where her mother continued to exercise extraordinary control over her.

"She was not free to leave her room, let alone the house, because her mother would sit like a guard outside of her room on a constant basis," said Romankow.

In 2004, Emily Errico visited a nutritionist with her father and was diagnosed with malnutrition. While follow up visits were recommended, the appointments were later cancelled by Edward Errico. The visit to the nutritionist would be the last time Emily Errico left the house before her death, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

In statements obtained by police, Emily Errico was heard "thumping down" onto the floor as if she had little or no muscle control in the months leading up to her death, according to the indictment.

One neighbor, who declined to be identified, said she had not seen Emily in so long before her death that she did not know that the girl still lived in the first floor apartment of the two-family house.

Earlier this year, Edward Errico pled guilty to third degree neglect in the case and was sentenced to probation and ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation.

The case will be handled by Union County Assistant Prosecutor James Donnelly.

The first court day for Ermina Errico has been slated for next week.