Man indicted on murder charges in death of Gaston Co. toddler

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A Gaston County man was officially indicted Wednesday on murder charges in the death of a 3-year-old girl.

William McCullen faced a judge Wednesday morning after police said he reported Jordyn Dumont missing last month.

The day after the toddler was reported missing, police found her remains in a wooded area near her home on Bess Town Road.

McCullen was dating the girl's mother.

"It wasn't her time to go and you know and it wasn't right,” said Jordyn's father, Josh Kinnett.

The grand jury's decision came on Wednesday, which would have been Jordyn's fourth birthday.

Last month, McCullen frantically called 911 and said Jordyn had wandered out of their house in Bessemer City.

Search crews found her body in some nearby woods the next day and officials said she died of blunt force trauma.

Cory Connard's family lives next door to Dumont's home on Bess Town Road. He said Jordyn's mother still stays at the house, which is covered with “No Trespassing” signs.

Nearby, a memorial for Jordyn continues to grow.

Kinnett said he will hold a memorial service and celebration for his daughter on Wednesday, and that he'll be back to Gaston County to ensure justice is served for his daughter.

Read our complete coverage on Jordyn Dumont:

• Preliminary autopsy: Jordyn Dumont died from blunt force trauma
• Hundreds gather to remember toddler killed in Gaston County
• Family, community to gather in honor of slain Gaston Co. toddler
• Father of slain 3-year-old girl upset at Gaston County DSS
• Neighbors say Gaston Co. toddler found dead lived in abusive home
• Family, community to gather in honor of slain Gaston Co. toddler

“She never had a voice,” Kinnett said. “She never got that right to fight for herself and defend herself."

Police in Gaston County said they were called to the house 16 times in the nine months Jordyn lived there, once for a stolen car, stolen lawn equipment and an argument involving a babysitter.

Social workers said they made five unannounced visits to the home after complaints of substance abuse but found nothing wrong.

Several people were outside the courthouse Wednesday to protest.

They believe DSS should have done more to protect Jordyn.

"It just breaks my heart that we continue to let our children down,” Sasha Messick said. “They don't have a voice. Somebody has got to speak for them."

Theresa Preslar watched Jordyn on several occasions and still can't believe she was killed.

"It's very heartbreaking because she is not here,” Preslar said. “My little girl went to school this morning knowing today was her little friend’s birthday. And she wanted to know if we were going to celebrate it."

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