Like others in Mecklenburg County, I was shocked, heartbroken, and angry at the death of Dominque Moody. The details are almost unbearable.
Dominique died in December after years of alleged abuse and neglect while living with her aunt, who now faces murder charges. Reports by a medical examiner exposed extreme abuse during her short life: The six-year-old weighed only 27 pounds; her body had old and new injuries, broken bones, scars and open wounds; and there was evidence of starvation, beatings and restraint. That came despite repeated warnings, multiple child welfare investigations closed without action, and numerous police visits to the home.
The horror of this case lies not only in her suffering, but in how many chances the system appears to have had to prevent the danger. Press reports confirm profound system failures. If these facts are true, this was not one isolated mistake. Something larger broke down…