CHARLOTTE, NC – Three women have been charged with first-degree murder following the death of 6-year-old Dominique Moody, whose December death revealed harrowing details of prolonged abuse and neglect inside a Charlotte home.
Authorities announced that Susan Robinson, 61, Tonya McKnight, 51, and Tery’n McKnight, 22, now face murder charges after a months-long investigation uncovered evidence of torture, starvation, and severe physical injury. The trio was initially arrested in December on child abuse-related charges but were indicted this week on upgraded counts of first-degree murder.
According to police reports and autopsy findings, officers responded to a 911 call at 7608 Gwynne Hill Road on the morning of December 16, 2025, after being told a child was not breathing. Paramedics transported Dominique Moody to Novant Health Mint Hill, where she was pronounced dead at 9:29 a.m.
Investigators described the home as “extremely unkempt,” with strong odors of feces and urine, animal and human waste throughout, and rats scurrying through the cluttered residence. The three-bedroom home had no central heating, and space heaters and an oven were being used to warm the house despite freezing overnight temperatures.
Disturbing evidence of prolonged abuse
Detectives and medical examiners documented extensive injuries on the child’s body, including healed ligature marks on her ankles, scars from burns, open wounds, and significant skin damage consistent with prolonged exposure to urine and feces. Hospital staff reported that Dominique weighed just 27 pounds at the time of her death.
Four other children were living in the home, all of whom were removed by child protective services. In interviews, the surviving juveniles told investigators that Dominique was routinely confined to a small enclosure and sometimes bound with black duct tape. They said she was often forced to watch others eat while being denied food and was left in soiled diapers for extended periods.
A search warrant executed on December 19, 2025, revealed corroborating evidence, including communications between Susan Robinson and Tonya McKnight. Photos recovered from Robinson’s phone allegedly showed the victim duct-taped and swollen, lying on the floor.
Timeline of arrests and charges
Initially, Robinson and the McKnights were arrested on charges of intentional child abuse resulting in serious physical injury and four counts of misdemeanor child abuse. Following a detailed forensic investigation and autopsy, prosecutors upgraded the charges to first-degree murder this week.
Key takeaways
• Susan Robinson, Tonya McKnight, and Tery’n McKnight charged with murder in the death of 6-year-old Dominique Moody.
• The child was found in filthy living conditions, showing signs of long-term abuse, starvation, and neglect.
• Four other children were removed from the home; investigators describe the case as one of the most severe instances of child torture in recent memory.
All three defendants remain in custody. The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office has not yet confirmed whether prosecutors will seek life imprisonment or pursue the death penalty.
