NC Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Strengthen Child Welfare Oversight After 6-Year-Old’s Death
Bipartisan coalition introduces the Dominique Moody Safety Act after 6-year-old Charlotte girl died weighing just 27 pounds despite nearly 50 police visits to her home.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — A bipartisan coalition of North Carolina lawmakers introduced legislation Tuesday to strengthen state oversight of local child welfare agencies following the death of a 6-year-old Charlotte girl who died from severe abuse and neglect in December 2025.
House Bill 1144, known as the “Dominique Moody Safety Act,” is named after Dominique Moody, who weighed just 27 pounds at the time of her death, according to Rep. Carla Cunningham (U-Mecklenburg), the bill’s primary sponsor. The legislation aims to address gaps in the child welfare system that advocates say failed to protect Moody despite numerous warning signs.
Tragic Details Emerge in Case
Moody’s home was visited nearly 50 times by police and was subject to five child welfare investigations prior to her death, according to WBTV reports from January. All investigations were closed due to insufficient evidence, despite what Cunningham described as horrific conditions.
“Her sister stated that Dominique stayed in a cage and sometimes rats would bite her,” Cunningham said during a press conference Tuesday. “She heard her cry and scream, but it was ignored. She described Dominique being tied up with black tape — her arms, her legs, and her butt. The adults in the home would whoop Dominique with a belt, a stick, or a pole.”
A Mecklenburg County Social Services spokesperson told WBTV that each child removal case is complex and unique, depending on numerous case-specific factors.
Legislative Response and Oversight Challenges
The North Carolina House Oversight Committee has requested records pertaining to the case from both the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services. However, neither agency has provided the requested documents to lawmakers.
A Mecklenburg County judge blocked the release of the police files, citing concerns for the rights of defendants in the ongoing abuse case, according to WBTV reports. Rep. Allen Chesser (R-Nash) serves as a lead sponsor on the legislation alongside Cunningham.
Cunningham said she authored the bill after meeting with Moody’s uncle and several other relatives in December. She indicated the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services informed her that no immediate changes to oversight protocols were planned.
Bipartisan Support for Reform
The bipartisan nature of the legislation reflects widespread concern among lawmakers about the state’s ability to protect vulnerable children. The bill comes as child welfare agencies across North Carolina face scrutiny over their handling of abuse and neglect cases.
The legislation seeks to establish enhanced state oversight mechanisms for county-level child welfare agencies, though specific details of the oversight provisions were not immediately available. The bill has been referred to committee for consideration during the current legislative session.
Cunningham emphasized that the legislation represents an effort to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The case has drawn attention to the challenges facing child protective services workers who must balance family preservation with child safety concerns.
