The body of 7-year-old Jor’Dynn Duncan, who was allegedly killed by her father’s fiancée following “prolonged torture,” has been exhumed in New York as the investigation into her death continues, according to reports.
Jor’Dynn was declared dead at NYU Langone Hospital – Suffolk on Long Island on December 29, 2025, after her legal guardian, Emily Kelly, called 911 reporting the girl was in cardiac arrest, leading paramedics to find her unresponsive, according to prosecutors.
Kelly, 50, of Bayport, who was engaged to Jor’Dynn’s father and had legal custody of her, was charged in May in Jor’Dynn’s death along with Kelly’s mother and adult daughter.
Around 90 injuries were found on Jor’Dynn’s body during an autopsy, which determined she died of “a massive untreated infection, the source of which were sharp force injuries,” the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said in a prior news release.
In a May 20 statement, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the indictment against Kelly, her mother, Barbara Renner, and Kelly’s daughter, Elyssa Seymore, over “the alleged prolonged torture, abuse, and the brutal murder of a defenseless, innocent child who was placed in their care.”
Jor’Dynn’s body has recently been exhumed as the criminal case against the women are pending, attorney Heather Palmore, who’s representing Jor’Dynn’s mother, Portia Duncan, confirmed to WABC-TV.
Duncan gave the district attorney’s office permission to exhume her daughter’s remains, according to Palmore.
“We don’t know why they asked for the exhumation of Jor’Dynn’s body. In my experience as a former prosecutor, there may be things or evidence they are looking to uncover,” Palmore told the TV station.
Duncan lost custody of Jor’Dynn after allegedly failing a drug test, per WABC-TV. Prosecutors said Kelly was granted full custody of Jor’Dynn in April 2025.
The exhumation of Jor’Dynn’s body comes as Kelly is facing charges of second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, unlawful imprisonment and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to prosecutors.
Kelly is accused of killing Jor’Dynn and documenting torture inflicted on her by taking photos and videos that were found on her cellphone and “cloud-based accounts,” according to prosecutors.
Jor’Dynn had missed about 40 days of school in the months before she died, between January and June 2025, according to the district attorney’s office.
“Kelly allegedly provided fabricated excuses” for the absences, including “different illnesses, deaths in the family, and a trip to Disneyworld — all of which were allegedly used to conceal the abuse,” the office said in its prior news release.
Meanwhile, Renner, 75, is charged with manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child, and Seymore, 24, is charged with unlawful imprisonment and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with Jor’Dynn’s death.
Kelly, Renner and Seymore have each pleaded not guilty, per WABC-TV.
In a statement to News 12 Long Island, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office declined to share details on the exhumation of Jor’Dynn’s body and said, “As this is an open case, there is no additional information to provide at this time.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
