East Charlotte House of Horrors

On December 16 at 7:40 detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Homicide Unit began conducting a death investigation in the 7608 Gwynne Hill Road in the Hickory Grove Division.

The victim was later identified as six year old Dominique Moody. 

The home that appears to be owned by Stephanie Leasure who lives in Matthews, North Carolina.

This is how CMPD Detectives described the living conditions:

7608 Gwynne Hill Road is 3-bedroom one bathroom residence. The residence was extremely unkempt, with strong odor of feces and urine. The residence was cluttered, and numerous rats were scurrying through it. The residence had mixture of animal and human feces throughout. Several holes leading to the exterior of the residence were also located in the floor and ceiling. The residence had no centralized heat. The oven in the kitchen, space heater in the living room, and space heater in bedroom were the only sources of heat. 

The space heater in the living room sat on concrete block on the floor, pointed towards cot in front of the couch. The heater was approximately feet from the cot. The low temperature during overnight hours was 20 degrees.

The injuries to the child were described as a healed ligature mark around the right ankle. The left ankle had an open wound, which is believed to be burn, and could have occurred postmortem. A healed circular scar on the top of the right foot is believed to be healed liquid burn scar. The leg, genitalia, and buttocks defects were caused by prolonged sitting in urine/feces-soiled items, such as diaper, for extensive periods of time. The victim had fracture to the right pinky toe, which was older and healed. The victim also had posterior lower rib fractures (ribs 7-9) on the left side, and two posterior lower rib fractures (ribs 9-10) on the right side. These fractures were newer, but in various states of healing.

As a result of continued investigation, detectives identified multiple adults and other children who resided at this residence. The children ages 1,2,4 and 6 were transferred to the custody of DHHS Child Protective Services. 

3 days after the death of the child CMPD executed a search warrant at the residence.

Over the course of the next two days Charlotte Mecklenburg Police have arrested Trey'n McKnight, Susan Robinson and Tonya McKnight who have been transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sherriff's Office.

Trey'n McKnight, Susan Robinson and Tonya McKnight are charged with:

Felony Child Abuse – Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury

Four counts of Misdemeanor Child Abuse

Bond is set at $2,000,000.00 for Trey'n McKnight but has not been set for Robinson or Tonya McKnight.

7608 Gwynne Hill Road Charlotte, North Carolina

CMPD Charging Affidavit. 

On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at approximately 0740 hours, officers responded to an assist medic call for service at 7608 Gwynne Hill Road. The call for service advised that the reporting person's 6-year-old daughter, Dominique Moody, was not breathing. The victim was transported to Novant-Mint Hill. The victim was pronounced deceased at 0929 hours.

The residence at 7608 Gwynne Hill Road is 3-bedroom residence. The residence was extremely unkempt, with strong odor of feces and urine. The residence was cluttered, and numerous rats were scurrying through it. The residence had mixture of animal and human feces throughout. Several holes leading to the exterior of the residence were also located in the floor and ceiling. The residence had no centralized heat. The oven in the kitchen, space heater in the living room, and space heater in bedroom were the only sources of heat. 

The space heater in the living room sat on concrete block on the floor, pointed towards cot in front of the couch. The heater was approximately feet from the cot. The low temperature during overnight hours was 20 degrees.

The victim was identified by her guardian, Tonya McKnight, as six-year-old Dominique Moody. The victim's hair, nails, and body were dirty. She had open wounds and scarring in various stages of healing covering most of her body. The victim was extremely small and reported by hospital staff to weigh only 27 pounds. 

She had healed ligature mark going all the way around her right ankle and linear healed scars on top of her right arm. On top of her right foot and outer right leg were healed circular scars. The victim had an open circular wound on the outer left ankle, which appeared to be burn. She had various minor open wounds on her knees, face, arms, and legs. The most significant injuries were defects to her genitalia and buttocks. The skin on the inner thighs, genitalia, hips, and buttocks was darkened and wrinkled, with numerous fresh wounds. She also had wounds in various stages of healing on her upper thighs and hips.

The victim was transported to the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office. Detectives were present for the autopsy. The Medical Examiner noted that the victim appeared to have healed ligature mark around the right ankle. The left ankle had an open wound, which is believed to be burn, and could have occurred postmortem. healed circular scar on the top of the right foot is believed to be healed liquid burn scar. 

The leg, genitalia, and buttocks defects were caused by prolonged sitting in urine/feces-soiled items, such as diaper, for extensive periods of time. The victim had fracture to the right pinky toe, which was older and healed. 

The victim also had posterior lower rib fractures (ribs 7-9) on the left side, and two posterior lower rib fractures (ribs 9-10) on the right side. These fractures were newer, but in various states of healing.

Four other children live in the residence, and were in the residence at the time of the victim's death.

Juvenile KMJ DOB 06/23/2021

Juvenile KMB DOB 10/09/2023

Juvenile KMT DOB 11/14/2024

Juvenile DM DOB 12/03/2019

Forensic investigators interviewed the juvenile occupants of the residence who were able to speak. The juveniles described Dominique Moody as being forced to live in small enclosure inside the residence by Tonya McKnight, often being bound with black tape, and being struck with white belt. They further advised that when Dominique was found not breathing, she was placed in front of the kitchen stove to warm her up and bring her back to life. She advised that the dog crate was destroyed with hammer and thrown in the garbage can.

On 12/19/2025, search warrant was served at 7608 Gwynne Hill Road. Officers located items of evidence corroborating the forensic interviews.

Susan Robinson arrived at the residence. Susan Robinson was interviewed, and the contents of her phone were obtained. The cellphone showed communications with Tonya McKnight from Friday, November 28th, 2025, at 3:15 PM. The picture showed the victim, duct taped with black duct tape, her hands and feet swollen, lying on the carpeted area of the living room. She advised that Tonya McKnight duct tapes Dominique Moody as punishment for many things, including stealing food. She suggested that Dominique Moody is forced to watchthem eat, and Tonya McKnight does not feed her every day, even though the house has plenty of food. She also advised that Dominique Moody is forced to sit in her soiled, urine and feces-filled diaper for days and days. This caused the extreme rash on Dominique's genitals and buttocks. This abuse/neglect was reported to have occurred for approximately 1.5 years.

Susan Robinson advised that Dominique is also forced to stay in dog crate in the living room. Dominique broke this dog crate several months ago and, since then, has been moved to sleep on the feces-filled bathroom floor.

Susan Robinson advised that Tonya McKnight leave her children with her and Tery'n McKnight regularly. Oftentimes, without telling them, she leaves the residence. Susan advised that she and Tery'n McKnight are responsible for the children, alone, multiple times month. Susan advised that she has seen Dominique Moody, duct taped, left without food, in soiled diapers, for days, and refused to assist, call 911, or report that abuse and neglect.

The children in the residence call Susan Auntie, and she admittedly provides care and supervision to them and sees and interacts with them daily, living in the residence.

Tery'n McKnight, Susan Robinson, and Tonya McKnight live in the residence and are the primary caregivers of the five children. The unkempt and inhospitable state of the residence, the children residing amongst rats and cockroaches, the children being bitten by rats, the residence's daily lack of heat, and the duct taping are well known to all three individuals. 

Tery'n McKnight and Susan Robinson's failure to take any action to remedy the problems caused by Tonya McKnight shows reckless disregard for Dominique Moody's life, which ultimately caused her serious injuries, including the wounds from the rash on her genitals and buttocks, broken bones, scars, and burns. This also creates and allows for substantial risk of physical injury to the other children living in the household.

Based on these facts, request that warrant be issued for Tery'n McKnight, Susan Robinson, and Tonya McKnight for four counts of Misdemeanor Child Abuse and one count of Child Abuse Inflicting Serious Mental or Physical Injury.

Cedar's Take:

This is clearly a homicide. Why has the Mecklenburg County District Attorney not charged these three with murder or at least publicly addressed this child's death? Why did it take CMPD 3 days to obtain a search warrant? Why did nearly a week pass before the 3 were arrested. Where was the property owner, DHHS Child Protective Services and CMS Officials? 

It is not clear if these are foster children or biological children.

Cedar Update:

The house where six year old Dominique Moody was found dead has apparently burned on Christmas Eve. Charlotte Firefighters arrived to find the home completely involved.