6-year-old girl died after her primary caregivers she lived with in the home filled with rats and cockroaches starved her for over a year and duct taped the girl as punishment; arrest

North Carolina – In a horrific case out of North Carolina, a 6‑year‑old girl, identified as Dominique M., died after being subjected to long‑term abuse, neglect, and starvation in a home infested with rats and cockroaches. A 61‑year‑old woman, identified as Susan R., the custodian tasked with Dominique’s care, has been arrested and charged with intentional child abuse resulting in serious physical injury and multiple counts of misdemeanor child abuse in connection with the little girl’s death.

According to an arrest affidavit, Susan and two other adults who were living in the household with her, identified as Tonya M. and Tery’n M., acted as the primary caregivers for Dominique and other young children. Police allege that the trio “duct taped” Dominique as punishment and starved her for over a year as discipline for “many things,” including eating. Prosecutors say the mistreatment endured by Dominique and the conditions in the home directly contributed to her death and will seek accountability through the criminal justice system.

The abuse and neglect reportedly took place in a home housing at least five children, all under the care of Susan and Tonya and Tery’n. Investigators described the residence as “unkempt and inhospitable,” plagued by rats and cockroaches, with children being bitten by rats and living without adequate heat during cold weather. According to the arrest affidavit, the children were forced to live among human and animal feces and were exposed to severe environmental hazards. During the winter months, the only sources of heat in the house were a kitchen oven and two space heaters, one positioned unsafely on a concrete block in the living room—inadequate protection from temperatures that sometimes dropped to 20 degrees overnight.

Dominique’s death prompted hospital staff to report signs of trauma and starvation to police. She was later found to weigh far below a healthy level for her age, with her body showing extensive evidence of prolonged abuse. Investigators obtained photos from a suspect’s phone showing Dominique duct taped with black duct tape, her hands and feet swollen, lying on the carpeted area of the living room prior to her death. The affidavit describes the girl’s body as “extremely small” and bearing multiple serious injuries.

Among the documented injuries were healed ligature marks around her right ankle, linear scars on top of her right arm, healed circular scars on her right foot and outer right leg, an open circular wound on her left ankle resembling a burn, multiple minor open wounds on her knees, face, arms, and legs, a fractured right pinky toe that had healed, and multiple lower rib fractures on both sides in various states of healing. Police also said Dominique had been forced to remain in a dog crate and to sit in a soiled diaper for days, causing an “extreme rash” on her skin. Susan allegedly admitted seeing Dominique in these conditions but refused to help, seek medical care, call 911, or otherwise report the abuse and neglect.

According to the arrest documents, Susan and Tonya and Tery’n allegedly starved Dominique for over a year as a form of punishment. The affidavit states that the little girl was kept from food as discipline, a harrowing allegation that underscores just how severe and prolonged the neglect had been. The cruelty included not just withholding nourishment but also subjecting Dominique to degrading conditions, such as being taped and confined, reinforcing the degree of calculated mistreatment she endured.

After the investigation revealed the scope of abuse and neglect, police arrested Susan on charges that reflect the violent harm caused to Dominique. She faces one count of intentional child abuse resulting in serious physical injury and four counts of misdemeanor child abuse. Susan was appointed as Dominique’s guardian by the Department of Social Services, a detail that has added urgency to questions about oversight and accountability in cases involving vulnerable children. Susan was ordered held without bail by the court, and she is set to appear before a judge again on January 9, 2026. Authorities continue to search for Tonya and Tery’n, believed to have also played significant roles in the environment where Dominique and the other children suffered.

The death of Dominique is a stark and tragic example of the devastating consequences of child abuse and neglect. Her story highlights the critical importance of protective oversight for children in care and the urgent need for intervention when warning signs of abuse and unsafe living conditions emerge. As the legal process continues, prosecutors and law enforcement remain focused on securing justice for Dominique and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. For the community and for child protection advocates, this case serves as a painful reminder of the vulnerability of children and the devastating price paid when adults entrusted with their care fail in their most basic duties.