On November 21, 2023, Charles Ivy, the mother's paramour and father of two of the three children in the home, entered the apartment at the Countryside Apartments in Daytona Beach and stabbed 30-year-old Denjah Moore more than 100 times while she slept. He then ignited all burners on the stove, placed paper on top of them, and set the apartment on fire while 10-month-old Messiah Calixte and two half-siblings (ages 4 and 5) were sleeping inside. Ivy fled the scene. Emergency responders extinguished the fire and found Moore dead from stab wounds. Messiah was pronounced dead at 1:22 AM from thermal and inhalational injuries. The two surviving children sustained critical burns and smoke inhalation. The Medical Examiner ruled the infant's death a homicide. Ivy was arrested and indicted on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, and first-degree arson. The motive is believed to be Ivy's anger over an ongoing child support case.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report states that the siblings' father "lit all of the burners on the stove, placed paper on top of them, and started a house fire while all of the children were sleeping," resulting in thermal injuries to the infant. The report further states there were "verified findings of death due to burns with the siblings' father as the caregiver responsible. There were also verified findings of burns against the children by their father." The news-journal article adds that Moore was "stabbed more than 100 times." These are intentionally inflicted injuries.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
The fatality report's Family Composition Chart lists Charles Ivy, age 34, as the mother's "Paramour." The two half-siblings are identified as "Half Sibling by Paramour" (age 4) and "Half Sibling by Mother" (age 5), making Ivy the father of the half-siblings but not the biological father of Messiah Calixte. The fatality report states "the sibling's father entered the home and stabbed the mother while she was sleeping. He then lit all of the burners on the stove, placed paper on top of them, and started a house fire while all of the children were sleeping." As the mother's paramour, Charles Ivy was the male paramour involved in the death.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report states: "The family has been involved in seven prior investigations between 2018 and 2023." It further details: "In August 2023, an investigation alleging the paramour had punched one of his older children was closed with no indicators of physical injury."
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The fatality report states: "The Volusia County Sheriff's office opened an investigation and arrested the siblings' father. He was charged with two counts of murder, two felonies for committing an act that could cause death, and first-degree arson of a dwelling while people were present." The court article (Document 4) confirms: "Ivy, 34, of Ormond Beach, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states: "The mother and the siblings' father had a on again/off again tumultuous relationship" and "it is believed he and the mother recently were fighting about it [child support]." This describes a pattern of domestic conflict. The siblings' father then entered the home and stabbed the mother to death, which is an act of lethal domestic violence. Document 4 further elaborates that "Moore was stabbed more than 100 times."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. The court article (Document 4) reveals that "Moore was stabbed more than 100 times," indicating extreme violence. The fatality report notes the motive was linked to child support disputes: "The siblings' father was not happy about the child support case, and it is believed he and the mother recently were fighting about it." Notably, Charles Ivy left his own biological children (Dakotah and Dove Moore, ages 4 and 5) in the burning apartment alongside Messiah. The fatality report also reveals the family had "seven prior investigations between 2018 and 2023," yet the most recent one in August 2023—just three months before the deaths—alleging the paramour had punched one of his children was "closed with no indicators of physical injury" and no services were provided. The defense sought a gag order due to "prejudicial publicity" from the police chief's press conference, which was denied by the judge. The prosecution stated at the hearing that the case was "not at present a death penalty case."
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