Mother faces 30 years in prison for child neglect after 17-year-old child is found dead

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — More than two years after a Montgomery County teenager was found dead inside their family's home surrounded by animal feces littering the floor, the teen's mother has been convicted of child neglect.

A judge found Cynthia Moore guilty of six counts of child neglect of her six children. She and her husband, Dominique Moore, were arrested in May 2023. The pair were accused of murdering their 17-year-old child with disabilities through medical neglect. 

The verdict left prosecutors disappointed as Cynthia Moore was charged with killing her 17-year-old child, who they claimed wasted away for months before passing. 

 “We stand by the charges filed by the State in this case and are disappointed with this verdict. We will reserve further comment at this time as there is still a co-defendant with pending charges,” said Lauren DeMarco, spokesperson for the State’s Attorney’s Office.

According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, officers were called to a home in the 9400 block of Quill Place in Montgomery Village on May 10, 2022. Upon arrival, officers found the 17-year-old unresponsive inside the family's home along Quill Place. 

The 17-year-old, who reportedly had multiple sclerosis and diabetes, died and Cynthia Moore reportedly told officers she'd given the child apple juice and that they had collapsed. Prosecutors said in 2023 that the teen was emaciated and weighed just 79 pounds. They were unable to walk or care for themselves and slowly wasted away for months. 

Detectives in May 2023 said Dominique, Cynthia Moore, and their six children were living in almost unimaginable squalor. Animal feces littering the floor, no working toilets, no electricity, and a nearly empty fridge.

Dominique and Cynthia Moore were both arrested following a year-long investigation. Both were charged with second-degree depraved-heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child neglect. 

While reporting the arrests in 2023, WUSA9 found signs on the front door of the home demanding privacy and calling the charges lies. 

Cynthia Moore faces 30 years in prison and will be sentenced in January 2025. Her husband's trial has been scheduled for Nov. 4.