Mother found guilty of child neglect and faces 30 years in prison

On Wednesday, Cynthia Moore of Montgomery Village was found guilty of six counts of child neglect following a seven-day trial in Montgomery County District Court. Sentencing was scheduled for January 22, 2025.

Cynthia and her husband Dominique Moore were charged in 2023 with second-degree murder and six counts of child neglect after their 17-year-old daughter died in their home on May 10, 2022. Authorities found the family living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, with six minor children removed from the home by Child Protective Services. An autopsy later determined the daughter’s death was a homicide, leading to the couple’s arrest.

According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, “In the District Court for Montgomery County, MD, the Honorable Jill Cummins found defendant Cynthia Moore, 41, of Montgomery Village, guilty of six counts of neglect of her six minor children,” Judge Cummins made the announcement today Judgment following a seven-day trial that ended on Monday, October 7, 2024.

Moore faces up to 30 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 22, 2025.

In May 2023, Cynthia Moore and her husband Dominique Moore were arrested and each charged with second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and child neglect following an investigation into the death of their 17-year-old child. On May 10, 2022, emergency responders were called to the Moores’ Montgomery Village home for an unresponsive child and discovered the family was living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

Dominique Moore’s trial is scheduled for November 4, 2024.

“We stand by the charges brought by the state in this case and are disappointed with this verdict. We reserve further comment at this time as there is still a co-defendant with pending charges,” said Lauren DeMarco, spokeswoman for the state Attorney General’s Office.