6-year-old girl died after the 61-year-old woman tasked with her care and two adults she lived with in the infested home starved her for over a year and duct taped her as punishment; arrest

North Carolina – In a deeply disturbing case from North Carolina, 6-year-old Dominique M. lost her life after enduring more than a year of relentless abuse, starvation, and neglect inside a home described by authorities as infested and unfit for any child. A 61-year-old woman tasked by the court with Dominique’s care, identified as Susan R., has been arrested and charged with intentional child abuse resulting in serious physical injury, along with four counts of misdemeanor child abuse.

According to court documents, Susan wasn’t the only adult involved. Two others, identified as Tonya M. and Tery’n M., were also living in the home and acted as primary caregivers to Dominique and several other children. The arrest affidavit details horrific allegations: Dominique was routinely duct-taped as punishment and denied food for over a year for offenses as minor as eating. Investigators believe these prolonged acts of cruelty directly led to her death.

Authorities say the household included at least five children, all under the care of Susan, Tonya, and Tery’n. The conditions inside the home were described as dangerous and degrading. Rats and cockroaches infested the space, and investigators found evidence that the children were bitten by rodents, exposed to animal and human waste, and left without proper heating during bitter cold nights. During the winter, the only sources of warmth were an oven and two unstable space heaters—one of them placed on a concrete block in the living room—while outdoor temperatures dipped as low as 20 degrees.

Dominique’s death finally brought the truth to light. Hospital staff alerted police after observing clear signs of trauma and extreme malnourishment. At the time of her death, Dominique’s weight was well below a healthy range, and her small body showed the undeniable effects of long-term abuse. Police later uncovered disturbing photographs from a suspect’s phone showing the child duct-taped with her limbs swollen and lying motionless on a carpeted floor.

An autopsy and further investigation revealed extensive injuries. Dominique had healed ligature marks around her ankle, linear scars on her right arm, circular scars on her right leg and foot, an open wound on her ankle resembling a burn, and multiple abrasions on her knees, arms, face, and legs. She also had a healed fracture in her toe and several rib fractures in various stages of healing. One particularly cruel detail noted by police was that Dominique had been forced to stay in a dog crate and left sitting in her own waste for days, leading to a severe skin rash.

Despite witnessing the child’s condition, Susan admitted she never sought help, called for medical attention, or reported the abuse. According to the affidavit, the three caregivers deliberately withheld food from Dominique as punishment. She was disciplined not only through physical means, such as being duct-taped, but also through prolonged deprivation of basic human needs.

Susan, who was appointed as Dominique’s legal guardian by the Department of Social Services, is now being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on January 9, 2026. Meanwhile, authorities are still searching for Tonya and Tery’n, who are believed to have been equally involved in creating and maintaining the abusive environment.

Dominique’s death has become a heartbreaking symbol of systemic failure, raising serious questions about oversight, intervention, and the safety of children placed in state-approved guardianship. As prosecutors prepare to pursue justice in the courtroom, her story stands as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for vigilance in protecting society’s most vulnerable.