A Lengthy Island mom is taking authorized motion in opposition to Suffolk County after investigators stated her daughter was tortured and killed by her authorized guardian.
Portia Duncan got here to Melville flanked by her attorneys to precise grief and remorse over the loss of life of her 7-year-old daughter, Jor’Dynn.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t cry, that I don’t take into consideration my daughter and fault myself,” Duncan stated at a press convention Tuesday.
Duncan’s previous drug abuse resulted in Jor’Dynn being positioned in foster care in a Bayport house in Jan. 2025. Eleven months later, Jor’Dynn was useless. Suffolk prosecutors stated she was the sufferer of months of systematic cruelty and sadistic abuse.
Emily Kelly, the court-appointed guardian for Jor’Dynn and the fiancée of Jor’dynns organic father, was charged together with her homicide. Kelly’s mom and grownup daughter are additionally going through felony fees in Jordynn’s loss of life.
“Suffolk county, their youngster protecting companies, the Bayport College District and their brokers, their workers, failed Jor’Dynn Duncan,” stated Duncan’s lawyer, Derek Sells.
Duncan’s attorneys insisted on Tuesday that others should share blame within the younger lady’s loss of life as properly, as they introduced plans to sue Suffolk County and the Bayport-Blue Level College District for $250 million.
“If someone would have achieved one thing possibly we might not be right here,” stated legal professional Lawanda Williams.
The attorneys allege that no faculty officers reported Jor’Dynn had missed 40 days of faculty in six months, nor did they report her coming to class sporting make-up to masks the abuse.
Additionally they declare the county did not correctly vet Kelly as a guardian, and are responsible of racial bias in selecting her over others near Jor’dynn. Kelly is white; Duncan is Black.
“We’re right here to ensure all people sees Jor’Dynn in the present day,” stated Marjorie Mesidor, one among Duncan’s attorneys.
Each the county and the college district declined remark, citing pending authorized issues.
The three girl charged criminally have all pleaded not responsible.
“I miss her dearly,” Duncan stated by tears. “I’m very upset she’s been taken from me … I simply need justice for my daughter.”
