Morgan Moore, who had diabetes and multiple sclerosis, died last year at 17, weighing only 79 pounds.


A Maryland transgender boy with disabilities died last year in what police are calling a case of criminal neglect by his parents, who have been charged with second-degree murder.

Morgan Moore died May 10, 2022, at age 17 at his home in Montgomery Village. His passing is just now being recognized as one of the violent deaths of transgender people in 2022, as some media reports at the time of his death misgendered him.

Police and paramedics were called to his home, where they found him unresponsive. He weighed only 79 pounds, and his father and mother, Dominique and Cynthia Moore, said he hadn’t seen a doctor in two years, according to local media and the Disability Day of Mourning website. He had diabetes and multiple sclerosis and was suffering from long-term effects of COVID-19. He had lost the ability to walk and had an abscess on his back.

There were 10 adults and children living in the home. Authorities removed six minor children from the Moores and placed them in foster care. Court documents showed the home was filthy, with animal feces throughout, nonfunctioning toilets, little lighting, and not enough beds for family members, Washington, D.C.’s Fox affiliate reports. The children were homeschooled and isolated, communicating with people outside the family only through video games.

Morgan was out as transgender, but not all family members recognized or respected his identity. He was “a celebrated artist, self taught guitarist, cook, keyboard player, gamer and all around great person,” according to an online tribute page. He had expressed a wish to travel to Japan.

“I just want my brother to be remembered as the artist and the person he was,” one sibling told the Fox station. “He was as good person, and I want people who are transphobic and not accepting of their children to accept their kids for who they are and love them no matter what.”

The local medical examiner did not officially classify Morgan’s death as a homicide until April. Then in May, his parents were both charged with second-degree murder and six counts of neglect of a minor.

“What happened to Morgan was inhumane,” said a statement from Tori Cooper, director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign’s Transgender Justice Initiative. “Morgan deserved the same respect and love from his parents as he received from his siblings, who were such a loving support in his life. Morgan’s beautiful memory is a reminder to all of us that we need to do better. Folks living with disabilities, Black and Brown people, and transgender people require the same love and respect that is given so freely to the many who take it for granted. We’ll remember Morgan as the bright artist and good person that he was.”


    • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Yes, but also fuck the society that allowed this to go on for long enough to be fatal and allows children to go hungry and homeless every single day. We shouldn’t allow dumbass or drug addicted or mentally ill or whatever parents to be a death sentence for their children.

  • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
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    1 year ago

    There were 10 adults and children living in the home. Authorities removed six minor children from the Moores and placed them in foster care. Court documents showed the home was filthy, with animal feces throughout, nonfunctioning toilets, little lighting, and not enough beds for family members, Washington, D.C.’s Fox affiliate reports. The children were homeschooled and isolated, communicating with people outside the family only through video games.

    “Homeschool” is becoming more and more a codeword for terrible. I don’t recall a single instance where this word has been in a news article and the result was positive.

    • Concetta@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 year ago

      I think it’s less homeschool itself and more that the type of people to do shit like this are more likely to try and separate from society, and homeschooling is part of that.

  • Squanchin' it@lemmy.one
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    1 year ago

    It sounds like those people had a lot more issues than just transphobia.

    I’m not trying to downplay bigotry, but it sounds like a shitty(literally) environment all around for everyone. Just, this poor boy had one more thing against him.

    • paysrenttobirds@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Yes, is like to see more thought about how this whole family slipped through the cracks in spite of adult siblings for example that appear to care for him. Vague reference to “love and respect freely given to so many” what is this? First step of change is be specific about what should have happened.

  • diprount_tomato@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    What happened to his siblings? If they were able to neglect one of their sons in such a way, I imagine the others weren’t paid much attention either

    Edit: ok I reread it and they’re now in foster care