3 Bayport women arrested in connection with torture, death of 7-year-old child in their care

A Bayport woman, her mother and her daughter have been indicted in the killing of a 7-year-old girl who prosecutors said suffered "prolonged torture" and had more than 90 wounds on her body at the time of her death late last year, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Jor’Dynn Duncan had been living with her father's girlfriend, who was granted legal custody of the girl, when she died last year, authorities said.

Emily Kelly, 50, of Bayport, has been indicted on charges of second-degree murder, reckless endangerment and other charges in connection with Jor'Dynn's death.

Kelly’s mother, Barbara Renner, 75, was indicted on a charge of second-degree manslaughter and a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child. Elyssa Seymore, 24, Kelly’s daughter, was indicted on a charge of first-degree unlawful imprisonment and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Each was arraigned Wednesday in Suffolk Criminal Court in Riverhead. Kelly's bail was set at $5 million cash or $10 million bond.

“This was not an alleged single act of violence. It was months of alleged systematic cruelty and sadistic abuse, meticulously documented. The child was allegedly left to die while these defendants watched her deteriorate. No child should ever endure such horror, and we will seek justice for Jor’Dynn," said Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney.

Kelly's attorney John LoTurco, in a statement to Newsday following his client’s arraignment, said Jor'Dynn's death was a "tragic accident."

"The facts will demonstrate that Emily deeply cared for Jor’Dynn and treated her as her own daughter. The evidence will show that this was a tragic accident, not the result of any malicious intent. Emily acted with love and compassion at all times.

"Jor’Dynn’s life was marked by significant hardship, including the loss of custody by her mother and the incarceration of her father. Following her placement in foster care, she experienced profound psychological struggles, including self-harm, which we believe are relevant to the circumstances surrounding this tragic loss."

According to prosecutors, Kelly called 911 at about 10:30 a.m. last Dec. 29 to report that Jor'Dynn was in cardiac arrest.

Responding paramedics found her unconscious and transported her to NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"An autopsy determined the victim died from a massive untreated infection, the source of which were sharp force injuries," Suffolk prosecutors said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office documented about 90 injuries on her body at the time of her death, prosecutors said.

An investigation by Suffolk police's Homicide Squad revealed that Kelly is the fiancée of Jor’Dynn’s father.

In December 2024, Suffolk County 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, prosecutors said. Investigators said they recovered photographic and video evidence from Kelly’s cellphone and cloud-based accounts that documented the alleged prolonged abuse and torture of Jor'Dynn, "which included prolonged restraint, physical injuries, and lack of medical care for those injuries dating back to January 2025," prosecutors said.

Jor’Dynn missed approximately 40 days of school between January and June last year, prosecutors said, adding that Kelly fabricated excuses for her absences, "involving different illnesses, deaths in the family, and a trip to Disneyworld — all of which were allegedly used to conceal the abuse," prosecutors said.