Overview
- Suffolk prosecutors this month indicted Emily Kelly, her mother Barbara Renner and Kelly’s daughter Elyssa Seymore on charges tied to the December 29 death of 7‑year‑old Jor’Dynn Duncan.
- Prosecutors say the autopsy showed nine sharp‑force wounds that perforated the child’s colon, at least 90 injuries in the final 48 hours and 20 older injuries, and they say photos and digital messages document abuse.
- Child Protective Services placed Jor’Dynn in Kelly’s Oak Street home on Dec. 4, 2024, alleged mistreatment was reported to investigators by Jan. 17, 2025, and a Family Court judge granted Kelly custody in April 2025.
- All three defendants have pleaded not guilty; defense lawyers say some injuries were self‑inflicted and Renner’s counsel has cited dementia, claims prosecutors dispute as they prepare their case.
- Suffolk legislators have demanded briefings from CPS and police and the case has intensified debate over kinship placement rules and whether supervision and background checks failed the child.