Prosecutors said 7-year-old Jor’Dynn Duncan had about 90 injuries when she died.
BAYPORT, N.Y. — Three generations of women have been charged in the death of 7-year-old Jor’Dynn Duncan, who prosecutors said died Dec. 29 after months of abuse inside a Bayport home.
Suffolk County prosecutors said Emily Kelly, 50, had custody of the child and failed to seek medical care as Jor’Dynn’s condition worsened. Kelly, her mother, Barbara Renner, 75, and her daughter, Elyssa Seymore, 24, were indicted after an autopsy and a homicide investigation.
Jor’Dynn was taken to a hospital unconscious on the morning of Dec. 29 and was pronounced dead. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office found that she died from a massive untreated infection caused by sharp force injuries. Officials said about 90 injuries were found on her body.
District Attorney Raymond Tierney said the case was not based on one alleged act. “It was months of alleged systematic cruelty and sadistic abuse, meticulously documented,” Tierney said. He said investigators recovered photos and videos from Kelly’s phone and cloud accounts that showed restraint, injuries and a lack of medical care.
Kelly was the fiancée of Jor’Dynn’s father, who is in prison, prosecutors said. Child Protective Services placed the girl with Kelly in December 2024, and Kelly gained legal custody and guardianship in April 2025. Prosecutors said the alleged abuse dated back to January 2025.
After Jor’Dynn died, investigators found that she had missed about 40 days of school between January and June 2025. Prosecutors said Kelly gave false reasons for the absences, including illness, family deaths and a trip to Disney World. The Bayport-Blue Point school district said it remained heartbroken and profoundly saddened.
Kelly was charged with second-degree murder, unlawful imprisonment, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. Renner was charged with manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child. Seymore was charged with unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child. All three pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors said Renner could be heard singing in the background of a video that showed Jor’Dynn struggling. They said Seymore and Kelly discussed ways to hide the child’s injuries. Authorities have not said whether more arrests are expected.
The three women are due back in court June 23. The homicide investigation remains active as prosecutors prepare the case for its next hearing.
Author note: Last updated May 22, 2026.