SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. (Gray News) – Three generations of women were arrested in New York after a 7-year-old girl died following abuse and torture, authorities said.
On Dec. 29, 2025, at approximately 10:30 a.m., 50-year-old Emily Kelly allegedly called police to report that Jor’Dynn Duncan was in cardiac arrest, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said.
Jor’Dynn Duncan died after she was allegedly abused and tortured inside a home in New York.(Source: Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office)
First responders found the child unconscious and took her to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.
An autopsy determined that Jor’Dynn died of a massive, untreated infection, the source of which was sharp-force injuries. In total, officials documented nearly 90 injuries on her body at the time of her death.
The investigation revealed Kelly is Jor’Dynn’s father’s fiancée. In December 2024, child protective services placed Jor’Dynn 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 prolonged abuse and torture of the 7-year-old.
That evidence allegedly 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 nearly 40 days of school between January and June 2025.
Kelly allegedly provided fabricated excuses involving different illnesses, deaths in the family, and a trip to Disney World, all of which were allegedly used to conceal the abuse.
Kelly was indicted Wednesday for murder, reckless endangerment, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child. She is being held on $5 million cash or a $10 million bond.
Kelly’s mother, 75-year-old Barbara Renner, and her daughter, 24-year-old Elyssa Seymore, were also indicted.
Renner was charged with second-degree manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child. She is being held on $50,000 cash or a $500,000 bond.
Seymore was charged with unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child, and was ordered held on $25,000 cash or $250,000 bond.
All three women are due back in court June 23.
Copyright 2026 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.