Overview
- Portia Duncan filed claims in early July accusing the Suffolk County Department of Social Services and the Bayport-Blue Point School District of failing to act on warnings before her daughter Jor'Dynn died on Dec. 29, 2025.
- Prosecutors say Jor'Dynn suffered months of systematic abuse that was recorded on a cellphone and left about 90 injuries on her body, according to the Suffolk County medical examiner.
- Three relatives who lived in the Bayport home were indicted in May and have pleaded not guilty: Emily Kelly on a second-degree murder count, Barbara Renner on manslaughter-related charges, and Elyssa Seymore on assault and unlawful imprisonment charges.
- The family's court papers say Jor'Dynn missed many school days and sometimes wore heavy makeup to hide injuries, and they accuse school staff and county social workers of ignoring or failing to report those signs.
- The lawsuit seeks civil damages as a means of accountability, with outlets reporting differing figures for the claim from $250,000 to $250 million, and the filing could prompt reviews of placement and reporting practices for child welfare and schools.