Two parents from Montgomery County, Maryland, could face up to 30 years in prison for six counts of child neglect after an investigation began following the death of one of their children.
In May 2022, emergency responders were called to Dominique and Cynthia Moore’s home in Montgomery Village, where they found their 17-year-old child, weighing only 79 pounds, deceased. The autopsy ruled the death a homicide due to the lack of adequate care for the child’s medical needs. Six other minor children, ages 5 to 15, were also living in the home.
According to a previous police statement, unsanitary conditions in the home led to the removal of the children by Child Protective Services. Two adult children over 18 were also living there. Investigators reported unsafe conditions, including non-functional toilets, animal waste on the floors, minimal food, and windows covered with blankets.
Initially, the Moores were charged with second-degree murder in the teen’s death, alongside six counts of child neglect. On November 4, Dominique Moore, 46, pleaded guilty to six counts of child neglect, while last month, Cynthia Moore, 41, was found guilty on the same charges.
The six minor children have since been placed in foster care. Both parents will be sentenced next year, with each facing a potential 30-year prison term.
