NC lawmakers hammer state, county officials following ‘horrific’ abuse death of six-year-old

Six-year-old Dominique Moody died in December 2025 after years of abuse and starvation in Charlotte, with her legal guardian and caregivers charged with abuse and murder. North Carolina lawmakers criticized Mecklenburg County's child welfare system for 13 reported abuse cases and systemic failures, including a caseworker's recommendation to remove her being overruled. A review of 58 cases found widespread issues, including insufficient intake questioning and failure to notify law enforcement in abuse cases.