Dominique Moody Child Abuse Death Investigation

Developing StoryLast updated JUN 11
SUMMARY

Dominique Moody caregiver Susan Robinson was arrested in Miami-Dade, Florida, in June 2026 on unrelated charges of elder financial exploitation, accused of stealing over $56,000 from elderly clients, and also faces first-degree murder charges in connection with Moody's death. As of June 11, 2026: Robinson remains in custody, and Mecklenburg County officials testified on June 4 that 12 county employees faced disciplinary actions, including terminations, following an internal investigation into the case. Mecklenburg County has added 20 positions to its budget, including 12 for child abuse and neglect investigations, and North Carolina lawmakers introduced the "Dominique Moody Safety Act" to improve child safety after medical examiners detailed severe abuse, including burn scars and fractured ribs, in Moody's death.

Timeline

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June 2026 — 5 developments

  1. Dominique Moody caregiver Susan Robinson was arrested in Miami-Dade, Florida, on unrelated charges o…

    Dominique Moody caregiver Susan Robinson was arrested in Miami-Dade, Florida, on unrelated charges of elder financial exploitation, accused of stealing over $56,000 from elderly clients. Robinson is also facing first-degree murder charges in connection with Moody's death. The arrest occurred in June 2026.

  2. Mecklenburg County officials testified that 12 county employees faced disciplinary actions, includin…

    Mecklenburg County officials testified that 12 county employees faced disciplinary actions, including terminations and resignations, following an internal investigation into the Dominique Moody case. This information was revealed during a legislative hearing on June 4, 2026, concerning systemic failures in the child welfare system.

  3. Mecklenburg County has added 20 positions to its budget, including 12 for child abuse and neglect investigations, in response to the death of Dominique Moody.

    Mecklenburg County has added 20 positions to its budget, including 12 for child abuse and neglect investigations, in response to the death of Dominique Moody. Legislation named the "Dominique Moody Safety Act" has also been introduced to improve child safety and accountability. County officials testified before the North Carolina House Oversight Committee on June 4, 2026, regarding the child welfare system.

  4. A North Carolina legislative hearing on June 4, 2026, examined the handling of the Dominique Moody c…

    A North Carolina legislative hearing on June 4, 2026, examined the handling of the Dominique Moody case, with medical examiners detailing severe abuse including burn scars and fractured ribs. Other children reported Dominique had been forced to live in a dog crate, and the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services had previously screened out five child protective services reports concerning the home.

  5. Mecklenburg County Commissioners received the findings of two investigations into the case of 6-year-old Dominique Moody on June 3, 2026.

    Mecklenburg County Commissioners received the findings of two investigations into the case of 6-year-old Dominique Moody on June 3, 2026. The child died in December 2025 from alleged abuse, neglect, and starvation. Three women have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death.

May 2026 — 9 developments

  1. Susan Robinson, a caregiver in the Dominique Moody case, admitted to witnessing and participating in…

    Susan Robinson, a caregiver in the Dominique Moody case, admitted to witnessing and participating in the abuse of the 6-year-old, including denying her food and failing to report it. Moody was found unresponsive on December 16, 2025, weighing 27 pounds with signs of severe abuse. North Carolina lawmakers are investigating systemic failures within the child welfare system and have scheduled a hearing for June 4.

  2. North Carolina lawmakers have scheduled a hearing for June 4, summoning Mecklenburg County leadershi…

    North Carolina lawmakers have scheduled a hearing for June 4, summoning Mecklenburg County leadership, including the County Manager, CMPD Chief, and DSS and DHHS directors, to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding the Dominique Moody death investigation. The committee is seeking to understand systemic issues within the county's child welfare system.

  3. Susan Robinson, Tonya McKnight, and Tery'n McKnight have been charged with first-degree murder in th…

    Susan Robinson, Tonya McKnight, and Tery'n McKnight have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 6-year-old Dominique Moody, with prosecutors alleging severe abuse including starvation, restraint, and beatings. A legislative committee has summoned county officials and police leadership to testify on June 4 regarding the case, following a notice from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services that ordered Mecklenburg County to develop a corrective action plan for its Department of Social Services due to 'systemic' issues.

  4. North Carolina lawmakers have introduced the 'Dominique Moody Act,' a bill designed to enhance the child welfare system by creating a Child Welfare Case Escalation Team.

    North Carolina lawmakers have introduced the 'Dominique Moody Act,' a bill designed to enhance the child welfare system by creating a Child Welfare Case Escalation Team. This team would have the authority to enter private residences in high-risk child abuse or neglect cases. State Representative Carla Cunningham introduced the bill, with Representative Allen Chesser also involved in legislative efforts to address gaps in the child welfare system.

  5. A state review has uncovered "systemic" failures within Mecklenburg County's Department of Social Se…

    A state review has uncovered "systemic" failures within Mecklenburg County's Department of Social Services, finding that multiple prior reports concerning Dominique Moody met the definition of abuse and neglect but were dismissed without further safety assessments. This breakdown has led to demands for significant changes within the county's social services department. Three women, including Moody's legal guardian Tonya McKnight, have been charged with first-degree murder, with prosecutors alleging severe malnutrition, starvation, restraint, and beatings.

  6. North Carolina lawmakers are investigating the handling of past welfare checks and calls concerning 6-year-old Dominique Moody.

    North Carolina lawmakers are investigating the handling of past welfare checks and calls concerning 6-year-old Dominique Moody. State legislators are requesting all relevant files from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services (DSS). Legislators have expressed disappointment that Mecklenburg County will not facilitate further meetings regarding the case.

  7. A bill named in honor of Dominique Moody, designed to enhance North Carolina's child welfare system, has passed the state House and is advancing to the Senate.

    A bill named in honor of Dominique Moody, designed to enhance North Carolina's child welfare system, has passed the state House and is advancing to the Senate. Concurrently, a state House oversight committee has requested all emails, videos, and reports from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department concerning the case.

  8. North Carolina lawmakers visited Mecklenburg County DSS on April 17, 2026, as part of an investigation into the handling of Dominique Moody's death.

    North Carolina lawmakers visited Mecklenburg County DSS on April 17, 2026, as part of an investigation into the handling of Dominique Moody's death. A bill named after the six-year-old has been introduced in the General Assembly to enhance the child welfare system, including provisions for a child welfare escalation team.

  9. Susan Robinson and Tonya McKnight have been charged with felony and misdemeanor child abuse, and all…

    Susan Robinson and Tonya McKnight have been charged with felony and misdemeanor child abuse, and all three women, including Tery'n McKnight, have been indicted on first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of six-year-old Dominique Moody. A bill named after Dominique has been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly to improve child welfare protocols, as investigations into the handling of the case by child welfare agencies are ongoing.

April 2026 — 1 developments

  1. Kim Henderson, Director of Mecklenburg County Department of Child, Family and Adult Services, resign…

    Kim Henderson, Director of Mecklenburg County Department of Child, Family and Adult Services, resigned in March 2026 amid ongoing investigations into the death of 6-year-old Dominique Moody. The child was found unresponsive on December 16, 2025, weighing only 27 pounds, with evidence of severe abuse and neglect.

March 2026 — 1 developments

  1. The mother of 6-year-old Dominique Moody is speaking out, questioning system failures that she believes led to her daughter's death due to severe abuse.

    The mother of 6-year-old Dominique Moody is speaking out, questioning system failures that she believes led to her daughter's death due to severe abuse. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump joined the family, highlighting multiple reports to Youth and Family Services. Dominique was found dead weighing only 27 pounds, having allegedly been kept in a dog cage and tied with duct tape.

February 2026 — 1 developments

  1. The three women, Tonya McKnight, Tery'n McKnight, and Susan Robinson, appeared in court for their first appearance on the murder charges.

    The three women, Tonya McKnight, Tery'n McKnight, and Susan Robinson, appeared in court for their first appearance on the murder charges. Their defense attorneys were appointed, and Tonya McKnight's attorney stated they could not represent her due to the capital nature of the case.

January 2026 — 3 developments

  1. Dominique Moody's family laid her to rest in early February.

    Dominique Moody's family laid her to rest in early February. Mecklenburg County attorneys refused to disclose details about social services' involvement at the home before the child's death, citing ongoing criminal cases.

  2. Prosecutors upgraded the charges against Tonya McKnight, Tery'n McKnight, and Susan Robinson to first-degree murder.

    Prosecutors upgraded the charges against Tonya McKnight, Tery'n McKnight, and Susan Robinson to first-degree murder. Court documents detailed horrific abuse, including starvation, restraint, burns, broken bones, and living in squalid conditions.

  3. The YouTube channel Grizzly True Crime released a video detailing the evidence against Tonya McKnigh…

    The YouTube channel Grizzly True Crime released a video detailing the evidence against Tonya McKnight, Tery'n McKnight, and Susan Robinson, who were facing child abuse charges, with murder charges being considered.

December 2025 — 4 developments

  1. Police revealed that the home where Dominique died was infested with rats and roaches, and contained human and animal feces.

    Police revealed that the home where Dominique died was infested with rats and roaches, and contained human and animal feces. Arson investigators determined that a fire on Christmas Eve that destroyed the home was arson.

  2. Tonya McKnight, Dominique Moody's mother, was arrested and charged with felony child abuse and misdemeanor child abuse.

    Tonya McKnight, Dominique Moody's mother, was arrested and charged with felony child abuse and misdemeanor child abuse.

  3. Susan Robinson, Dominique's legal guardian, was arrested and charged in connection with the child's death.

    Susan Robinson, Dominique's legal guardian, was arrested and charged in connection with the child's death. Police described the home as a 'house of horrors' where Dominique was allegedly kept in a dog crate and bound with duct tape.

  4. Dominique Moody, 6, was found unresponsive at a home on Gwynne Hill Road in Charlotte, North Carolina.

    Dominique Moody, 6, was found unresponsive at a home on Gwynne Hill Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was pronounced dead at the hospital later that day. Investigators later determined she weighed only 27 pounds, indicating severe malnutrition and long-term abuse.

September 2025 — 1 developments

  1. The dog crate that Dominique Moody was allegedly forced to stay in broke.

    The dog crate that Dominique Moody was allegedly forced to stay in broke. The alleged abuse had been occurring for approximately a year and a half.

May 2024 — 1 developments

  1. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has placed Mecklenburg County's social se…

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has placed Mecklenburg County's social services on a corrective action plan following concerns about child welfare practices revealed during the investigation into Dominique Moody's death. This action comes as state lawmakers continue their investigations into the handling of the case and advance legislation to improve the child welfare system.

January 2021 — 1 developments

  1. A court awarded custody of 6-year-old Dominique Moody to her aunt, Tonya McKnight, due to concerns about her mother's ability to care for her.

    A court awarded custody of 6-year-old Dominique Moody to her aunt, Tonya McKnight, due to concerns about her mother's ability to care for her. Court records at the time did not mention the unsanitary and hazardous conditions present in McKnight's home.