(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of three defendants stemming from the death of seven-year-old Jor’Dynn Duncan. Emily Kelly, 50, of Bayport, was indicted for Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges. Barbara Renner, 75, Kelly’s mother, was indicted for Manslaughter in the Second Degree and another related charge. Elyssa Seymore, 24, Kelly’s daughter, was indicted for Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree and other related charges.
“Today, my office is announcing the indictment against three co-defendants after a lengthy grand jury investigation into the alleged prolonged torture, abuse, and the brutal murder of a defenseless, innocent child who was placed in their care,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This was not an alleged single act of violence. It was months of alleged systematic cruelty and sadistic abuse, meticulously documented. The child was allegedly left to die while these defendants watched her deteriorate. No child should ever endure such horror, and we will seek justice for Jor’Dynn.”
According to the investigation, on December 29, 2025, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Kelly allegedly called 911 to report that the victim was in cardiac arrest. Paramedics found the child unconscious and transported her to NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk, where she was pronounced dead.
An autopsy determined the victim died from a massive untreated infection, the source of which were sharp force injuries. In total, the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office documented approximately 90 injuries on her body at the time of the victim’s death. The findings prompted an investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
The investigation revealed that Kelly is the fiancé of Jor’Dynn’s father. In December 2024, Suffolk County Child Protective Services placed the victim with Kelly at Kelly’s request, and in April 2025, Kelly gained full custody and guardianship of the child. Investigators allegedly recovered extensive photographic and video evidence from Kelly’s cellphone and cloud-based accounts documenting the alleged prolonged abuse and torture of the victim, which included prolonged restraint, physical injuries, and lack of medical care for those injuries dating back to January 2025.
Following her death, it was discovered that Jor’Dynn missed approximately 40 days of school between January 2025 and June 2025. Kelly allegedly provided fabricated excuses involving different illnesses, deaths in the family, and a trip to Disneyworld – all of which were allegedly used to conceal the abuse.
On May 20, 2026, Kelly was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins for:
· One count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony;
· One count of Reckless Endangerment, a Class D felony;
· One count of Unlawful Imprisonment, a Class E felony; and
· Three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class A misdemeanors.
Justice Collins ordered Kelly held on $5 million cash, $10,000,000 bond, or $10,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Kelly is due back in court on June 23, 2026, and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count. She is being represented by John LoTurco, Esq.
On May 20, 2026, Renner was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Collins for:
• One count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony; and
• One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor.
Justice Collins ordered Renner held on $50,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Renner is due back in court on June 23, 2026, and faces up to five to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count. She is being represented by Danielle Coyshe, Esq.
On May 20, 2026, Seymore was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Collins for:
• One count of Unlawful Imprisonment, a Class E felony; and
• Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class A misdemeanors.
Justice Collins ordered Seymore held on $25,000 cash, $250,000 bond, or $250,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Seymore is due back in court on June 23, 2026, and faces up to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison if convicted of the top count. She is being represented by Katherine Fernandez, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dena Rizopoulos of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Melissa Grier of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives James Hughes and Jack Ward of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.