Three Women Charged with Murder in Horrific Child Abuse Case

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Three women - Susan Robinson, 61, Tonya McKnight, 51, and Tery'n McKnight, 22 - have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Dominique Moody, a 6-year-old girl who died on December 16, 2025 after months of alleged abuse and torture in Charlotte, North Carolina. The case has drawn national attention due to the horrific details of the abuse and the prolonged period before authorities intervened with murder charges.

Why it matters

This case highlights the critical importance of reporting suspected child abuse and the potential consequences of failing to intervene. The prolonged abuse and neglect suffered by Dominique Moody before authorities stepped in raises questions about how to better protect vulnerable children in these situations.

The details

Police responding to a call that Dominique was not breathing found the child in a dire state, with open wounds, scars, and weighing only 27 pounds. Evidence suggests Tonya McKnight subjected the child to physical restraints, including being wrapped in duct tape and plastic. Dominique was also allegedly deprived of food for over a year as punishment and forced to remain in soiled diapers for days, resulting in severe rashes. The home was described as extremely unkempt, infested with rats and cockroaches, and lacking adequate heating.

• Dominique Moody died on December 16, 2025.
• The women were initially arrested in late 2025 on charges of intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury and four counts of misdemeanor child abuse.
• The investigation subsequently escalated to homicide charges.

What’s next

The judge in the case has denied bail to all three women, who remain incarcerated in the Mecklenburg County jail. The investigation is ongoing, and the whereabouts and current situation of the other children who resided in the home have not been publicly released.