How Could You? Hall of Shame-Dominique Moody case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Charlotte, North Carolina, foster parent Tonya McKnight  and along with two other women have been charged in the death of Dominique Moody, 6, on December 16, 2025.

“When investigators went through the east Charlotte home after the girl’s death in December, they detailed horrific allegations in court records of a life lived in dog cages, bound and tortured, without food.

She weighed far less than the minimum acceptable weight for a child who was nearly 7 years old.

But a sweeping WBTV investigation has uncovered how the child’s home was well known to authorities long before Dominique died.

Numerous records obtained by WBTV detail nearly 50 visits from authorities to the troubled home in the years leading up to Dominique’s death – most of which have not been reported to the public before now.

A distant relative runs the funeral home where the child is being embalmed. J. Vernon Peterson didn’t know Dominique existed until family reached out for his help in her death.

Presented with the findings of WBTV’s investigation and his agency having embalmed the body, he didn’t mince words.”

“Police, however, had visited the property numerous times, and the record also indicates teachers had expressed concerns about the younger sister’s poor odor and hygiene at school. Dominique herself, at almost 7, had never been enrolled in school.”

“In each CPS report, the record says YFS investigated and did not find sufficient evidence to confirm the allegations. Each case was closed, the court record said. The children were left in the home.

The Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services declined a request for an interview. A spokesperson emailed simply that “removal of a child is dependent on a number of factors that are specific to a case.”

The investigations are undated in the court record. But Dominique’s body was covered in both old and new injuries at the time of her death, according to court records as well as the licensed mortician who is embalming her body,

“This little one struggled to survive,” said Atravis Powell Sr., mortician at Unity Funeral Services in Fayetteville. Based on healing and scar tissue factors, he believes some of the marks, scars and injuries on her body are four to five years old.””

“Dominique’s younger sister, who just turned 6 years old, would later tell investigators that Dominique would “stay in a cage” with rats, and that the women in the home would tie her up with black tape “all the time,” whip her, and her body would become swollen.

The three women charged in her death denied her food, despite there being food in the home, investigators have also alleged. Court records say Dominique was forced to sit in soiled, feces-filled diapers for days that led to severe rashes and injuries in sensitive areas on her body.

Dominique and her younger sister had been placed with Tonya McKnight in December of 2019, with a judge officially transferring custody from their mother to Tonya two years later. McKnight was a relative of the children’s mother, who court records said struggled with addiction and other issues.”

“Now, social workers are moving to have Dominique’s younger sister placed back with her biological mother, Ikea McKnight, who spoke with WBTV on Monday, Jan. 12.

“My baby needs justice,” Ikea McKnight said. “Shouldn’t no child have to get put into the system and have to worry about who’s going to properly take care of them.”

When asked if she had called police over the years with concerns for the children, she said she had.

Records obtained by WBTV showed she was telling the truth.”

Police, social workers called to Charlotte home dozens of times before child’s horrific death
[WBTV 1/13/26 by Naomi Kowles]

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