Three women are facing charges related to the tragic death of a 6-year-old girl from North Carolina, who weighed just 27 pounds when she passed away earlier this month.
Court documents reveal that the young girl, Dominique Moody, suffered from multiple injuries and scarring at the time of her death, as reported by the Charlotte Observer.
The records indicate that Dominique had burn scars, fractured ribs, and wounds consistent with being left in soiled diapers for extended periods.
Investigators learned from other children in the household that Dominique’s legal guardian, her aunt Tonya McKnight, allegedly forced her to stay in a dog crate.
The situation came to light when McKnight called 911 on December 16. Responding officers discovered the home in disarray, overwhelmed by a strong odor of feces and urine. The affidavit noted that the residence was infested with rats and cluttered with both human and animal waste.
In connection with this case, Tonya McKnight, Dominique’s adopted sister, Tery’n McKnight, and Susan Robinson, another resident of the home, have been charged with five counts of child abuse each. They are currently being held without bail.
According to WSOC, prosecutors are awaiting lab results, which could lead to murder by torture charges.
The Observer also reported that police had been called to the home five times since 2022.
Tonya McKnight filed for custody of Moody and her sibling in 2020, writing in her filing that the children’s mother “is unstable and not equipped to care for the children.” The mother signed “permanent custody agreements” with McKnight that same year, giving her sister power of attorney over the children.
A court order was issued to that effect the following year.
According to WBTW, Tonya McKnight, 51, is the grandmother to three other children – ages 1 to 4 — living at the home. The status of those children is unclear.
