When his dad left home on June 26, 2025, police say a brave 9-year-old boy ran to a neighbor for help. The child ran from Cedric Diequell-Stevens Moore’s home in Pontiac, Michigan, and told a neighbor his dad had been abusing him. Deputies from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office arrived a short time later and made a sad discovery about the father and son. According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, when deputies arrived, the boy told them his father beat him because he fell asleep on the couch.
Deputies reportedly found multiple injuries on the child, including welts on his torso and severe injuries to his eye and around his neck.
“The boy said his father beat him with a belt on his face, back, legs, and buttocks, and struck him with a broom handle before choking him until he passed out,” the sheriff’s department explained in the release. “The father then told him ‘It’s gonna happen all night’ and left for the store.”
Moore allegedly left the 9-year-old boy and his 1-year-old brother alone in the home. “The child’s 1-year-old brother was also found to have injuries, including circular marks on his back and a bump on his stomach,” according to the sheriff’s office.
“One of the worst things we see is horrific abuse to children,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard shared in the statement. “It cannot be tolerated, and those responsible must be held fully accountable and their children protected.”
The morning of the alleged attack, Moore shared a haunting post on Facebook about parenting.
“I’m starting to think don’t no women want ish to do with a single father lol TUH ether they think u still f—n yo bm or just don’t believe u or just don’t want to do what some dad’s do n play step parent CRAZY WORK TUH,” he wrote in the post.
“You deserve to rot in hell you sick f—,” someone commented on his post.
Police arrested Moore, and he faces charges of second-degree and fourth-degree abuse, per the release. He’s currently in Oakland County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
