Three Women Face Murder Charges for Death of 6-Year-Old Girl Found in Dog Crate

Authorities in North Carolina have charged three women with first-degree murder in connection with the death of a six-year-old girl. According to reports, the child, whose name was Dominique Moody, weighed just 27 pounds at the time of her death.

The women, identified as Susan Robinson, 61, Tonya McKnight, 51, and Tery’n McKnight, 22, were taken into custody after child abuse allegations came to light following Dominique's death in December 2025.

As reported by WBTV, the individuals are facing serious charges of murder. Investigators revealed that Dominique had been kept inside a dog crate and showed evidence of prolonged mistreatment, including healed ligature marks and open wounds.

The living conditions in the home have been described by authorities as extremely poor, with a pervasive odor of feces and urine throughout the premises.

According to court filings, the child was often bound with duct tape and deprived of food, information corroborated by text messages examined by the authorities.

While the tragic situation unfolded, four other children also resided in the house. Police records indicate that law enforcement had responded to the residence nearly 50 times prior to Dominique’s death, as detailed by WBTV.

Tonya McKnight served as Dominique's legal guardian. In light of the severity of the charges, a judge has denied bail for all three women.