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Cynthia Moore, 41, of Montgomery Village, was found guilty by a judge of six counts of child neglect following a seven-day bench trial, the Montgomery State's Attorney's Office announced Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Moore was initially indicted on charges of second-degree depraved heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child neglect, as was her husband, Dominique Moore, 46. Domonique is scheduled to go to trial next month.
An investigation was launched at the Moore family home regarding abhorrent living conditions involving a family of 10, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police.
In May 2022, officers from the 6th District were called to the 9400 block of Quill Place in Montgomery Village to investigate a working code in progress, officials said
At the time, the mother stated that her 17-year-old daughter had Multiple Sclerosis and diabetes, and had recently been diagnosed with COVID. Cynthia Moore also stated that the girl was having trouble breathing and had collapsed.
She further advised responding officers that the teen had not seen a doctor in two years.
Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel were then called to the scene, where the victim was pronounced dead, though the investigation into the parents was only beginning.
The family had been reportedly living in squalor, according to police, and due to the unsanitary conditions, six children between the ages of 5 and 15 were placed in the care of Child Protective Services.
Two other children over the age of 18 were also living in the house at the time the teen was pronounced dead.
The body of the 17-year-old girl was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy, and the manner of death was ultimately determined to be a homicide.
On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, the pair were arrested and both charged with individual counts of second-degree murder and six counts of neglect of a minor.
"We stand by the charges filed by the State in this case and are disappointed with this verdict," Lauren DeMarco, a spokesperson for the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office stated. "We will reserve further comment at this time as there is still a co-defendant with pending charges."
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