The mom of a tragic 7-year-old lady who died after a 12 months of “systemic” abuse is suing Suffolk County and native faculty officers for putting the teen in a nightmarish home of horrors.
Portia Duncan claims that little Jor’Dynn Duncan’s destiny was sealed when the county turned the lady over to her dad’s fiancée, the place she allegedly suffered horrific and ongoing abuse that lastly took he life in December, based on papers filed in Suffolk County court docket.
She’s looking for $250,000 in wrongful dying damages.
“As we speak is step one towards getting justice for Jor’Dynn,” Derek Sells, the legal professional representing the grieving mother, advised The Submit on Tuesday. “We won’t let her dying be in useless. Hopefully, via this authorized declare, we’ll assist save different in danger youngsters.”
Jor’Dynn was positioned within the custody of Emily Kelly, her dad’s fiancée, in December 2024 after a custody dispute, with the tot shifting into the Bayport dwelling shared by Kelly, her mom and her daughter.
All three generations at the moment are charged within the dying of the defenseless teen.
Jor’Dynn was positioned in Kelly’s custody on the request of the lady’s dad, Derrick Dixon, who’s at the moment serving a four-year state jail sentence on an tried housebreaking conviction.
Regardless of Portia Duncan’s objections, Kelly was given full custody of the lady in April 2025.
In response to Suffolk County prosecutors, the lady endured ongoing abuse within the dwelling, together with “sharp drive accidents,” repeated beatings and restraint that compelled the battered second-grader to overlook a complete of 40 faculty days on the Bayport-Blue Level College District.
“This was not an alleged single act of violence,” Suffolk District Legal professional Ray Tierney mentioned when he introduced the prison expenses in Might. “It was months of alleged systemic cruelty and sadistic abuse.”
Jor’Dynn’s tiny physique lastly gave out on Dec. 29, when police acquired a 911 name that the lady was in cardiac arrest and he or she was rushed to NYU Langone Hospital, the place she was pronounced lifeless.
In Might, prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging Kelly with second diploma homicide, whereas her mom, 75-year-old Barbara Renner, and her daughter, Elyssa Seymore, 24, have been hit with associated expenses, together with assault and illegal imprisonment.
Within the court docket papers filed July 5, Portia Duncan mentioned the varsity district failed to boost considerations over the absences and did not report “outwardly apparent bodily indicators of abuse,” and even tried to cover them.
She additionally claimed that county Little one Protecting Providers and the Division of Social Providers dropped the ball by failing to maintain tabs on Jor’Dynn’s well being and wellbeing till it was too late.
Suffolk County officers didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
In an electronic mail, a spokesperson for the Bayport-Blue Level College District acknowledged receiving the court docket papers.
“As a typical apply, the district doesn’t touch upon pending authorized issues,” the spokesperson mentioned.
