The mother of a 7-year-old girl who died following a year of alleged abuse is suing Suffolk County and school officials, asserting they placed her daughter in a harmful environment. Portia Duncan has filed a lawsuit seeking $250 million in damages, claiming the county’s decision to entrust custody of Jor’Dynn Duncan to Emily Kelly led to the child’s fatal mistreatment.

According to court documents, Jor’Dynn was placed in December 2024 in a Bayport residence shared by Kelly—who is engaged to Jor’Dynn’s father, Derrick Dixon, currently serving a four-year sentence for attempted burglary—alongside Kelly’s mother, Barbara Renner, 75, and Kelly’s daughter, Elyssa Seymore, 24. All three women have been charged in connection with the girl’s death, which occurred on December 29, 2025.

Duncan’s lawsuit contends that despite her objections, full custody was granted to Kelly in April 2025 at the request of Dixon. During the year in Kelly’s care, prosecutors allege Jor’Dynn suffered extensive abuse, including sharp force injuries, repeated beatings, and physical restraint. The second grader reportedly missed 40 school days due to her injuries while attending the Bayport-Blue Point School District.

Duncan also accuses the school district of failing to report clear signs of physical abuse that were visible during Jor’Dynn’s time as a student. Both county officials and school representatives declined to comment on the lawsuit or the allegations.

The lead attorney for Duncan, Derek Sells, described the legal action as the beginning of a pursuit for justice for the child. The case has drawn attention to questions about child protective services’ decisions and the responsibilities of schools and local authorities in responding to suspected abuse.