Three Women Face Murder Charges After Six-Year-Old Girl Dies in Horrific Abuse Case
Three women have been charged with first-degree murder and multiple counts of child abuse following the tragic death of a six-year-old girl in Charlotte, North Carolina. The victim, Dominique Moody, was found unresponsive in a home described as "extremely unkempt" and was pronounced dead at a hospital on December 16, 2025.
Disturbing Details Emerge from Medical Examination
Hospital staff informed police that Dominique weighed a mere 27 pounds at the time of her death, a weight shockingly low for her age. Medical examinations revealed she had what appeared to be healed ligature scars on her arms and legs, along with broken bones and open wounds on her body. One of these wounds was identified as a burn, according to an affidavit obtained by sources.
Further distressing details included that her hair, nails, and body were dirty, and she had sores around her genitals and buttocks, likely caused by prolonged exposure to soiled nappies. The affidavit alleges that the child's condition was a result of severe neglect and abuse.
Squalid Living Conditions and Alleged Torture
Police who inspected the home reported a strong odour of feces and urine, with the residence being "inhospitable." Four other children were living in the home alongside Dominique, and they claimed she was often kept in a dog crate. The home lacked central heating, relying only on an oven, a space heater in the living room, and another in a bedroom for warmth.
During overnight hours, temperatures dropped to as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 6 degrees Celsius). In a desperate and futile attempt, some of the other children stated that Dominique was placed in front of the stove to warm her up and "bring her back to life," as per court documents.
Evidence of Restraint and Starvation
Text messages between two of the accused, Susan Robinson, 61, and Tonya McKnight, 51—who was Dominique's legal guardian—allegedly contained photos from November 2025 showing the child restrained with duct tape. The messages also indicated that Dominique was regularly starved of food, despite there being ample food available in the home.
The three women charged are Susan Robinson, Tonya McKnight, and Tery'n McKnight, 22. They were arrested in late December 2025 following Dominique's death. Authorities responded to a call for medical assistance at around 7:40 a.m. on December 16, where the caller reported a child was not breathing.
History of Police and Social Worker Involvement
Shockingly, police had been called to the residence nearly 50 times in the years before Dominique's death. Social workers had also received five reports of alleged abuse or neglect, highlighting potential failures in the system to protect the vulnerable child.
This case follows another horrific child abuse incident where a father pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after letting his daughter starve to death while boxes of food were piled outside her bedroom door. In that case, a three-year-old boy was found locked in a cage but alive, with both children testing positive for cocaine.
The allegations against Robinson, McKnight, and McKnight include that they were well aware of the dangerous living conditions, including children residing amongst rats and cockroaches, being bitten by rats, and the daily lack of heat. The duct taping and other abuses were reportedly known to all three individuals, according to the affidavit.
As the legal proceedings continue, this tragic story underscores the severe consequences of child neglect and abuse, raising questions about intervention and protection for at-risk children in similar situations.
