Home / Crime and Justice / Family Trio Pleads Not Guilty in Child Abuse Torture Case
Family Trio Pleads Not Guilty in Child Abuse Torture Case
24 Jun
Summary
- Three generations of women deny charges in a child's death.
- The 7-year-old victim suffered approximately 90 injuries.
- Prosecutors allege months of systematic cruelty and abuse.
Three generations of women, including a grandmother, mother, and daughter, have entered pleas of not guilty to charges in the death of a 7-year-old girl. Prosecutors assert that the child, Jor'Dynn Duncan, suffered extensive abuse and neglect prior to her death on December 29, 2025. Medical examiners discovered approximately 90 injuries on the victim's body.
Emily Kelly, 50, who had custody of the child and is the fiancé of the child's incarcerated father, faces a second-degree murder charge. Her mother, Barbara Renner, 75, is charged with second-degree manslaughter, while Kelly's daughter, Elyssa Seymore, 24, is accused of unlawful imprisonment. The alleged abuse was reportedly documented on a cellphone.
During a court appearance on Tuesday, the courtroom was filled with emotional family and supporters of the victim. The district attorney described the abuse as systematic cruelty. Legal representatives for the victim's biological mother stated they are investigating potential systemic flaws. The next court date is scheduled for early August 2026, with discovery to be turned over by then.
