HUMBOLDT, TN - The Gibson County District Attorney's Office has officially charged a 12-year-old girl with murder after being accused of smothering her eight-year-old cousin as she slept over an argument involving an iPhone.
According to WFLA, the county prosecutor, Frederick Agee said that a security camera recorded the killing, which took place inside of a bedroom they shared. The incident took place on Monday, July 15th. Agee said that the recording shows the older child using bedding to suffocate her cousin as the younger girl slept in the top bunk.
Agee also said that after the child died, "the juvenile cleaned up the victim and repositioned her body." The girl has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence after authorities obtained video of the incident.
A relative said that the girls had been arguing over an iPhone after coming from out of town to stay with their grandmother. Agee said, "I consider this to be one of the most disturbing violent acts committed by either an adult or juvenile that my office has prosecuted." He said that he plans to petition a judge to prosecute the girl, who turns 13 in August, in adult court.
Being tried in an adult could "would allow for a lengthier sentence, whether that be through incarceration or supervision with court-ordered conditions," according to Agee. WKRN reported that the victim's mother, Rayana Smith, remembered her eight-year-old daughter as happy. She identified her daughter as Demeria Hollingsworth.
She said, "When they told me about that, I should have just gone to get my kid. But they were having fun for the summer, and I didn't think she would kill my baby." Smith added, "She liked to read books, go swimming, and play outside. Ride her bike every day, play with the kids in the neighborhood, play with my friends' kids. My baby was sweet."
The mother said, "Last time I seen my baby, she was smiling, giving me kisses, telling me she will see me when it's time for her to come back home. She's never coming back home. She's never coming back home." According to WREG, the mother said it is difficult for her to wrap her head around what happened to her daughter.
She said, "She did nothing to deserve for her life to be taken. She was only eight-years-old. She just turned eight in April." A GoFundMe has been set up to help with the young girl's funeral costs, which has raised over $15,000 at the time of this writing.
Smith said that she hopes that the 12-year-old cousin gets the maximum sentence.
According to WFLA, the county prosecutor, Frederick Agee said that a security camera recorded the killing, which took place inside of a bedroom they shared. The incident took place on Monday, July 15th. Agee said that the recording shows the older child using bedding to suffocate her cousin as the younger girl slept in the top bunk.
Agee also said that after the child died, "the juvenile cleaned up the victim and repositioned her body." The girl has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence after authorities obtained video of the incident.
A relative said that the girls had been arguing over an iPhone after coming from out of town to stay with their grandmother. Agee said, "I consider this to be one of the most disturbing violent acts committed by either an adult or juvenile that my office has prosecuted." He said that he plans to petition a judge to prosecute the girl, who turns 13 in August, in adult court.
Being tried in an adult could "would allow for a lengthier sentence, whether that be through incarceration or supervision with court-ordered conditions," according to Agee. WKRN reported that the victim's mother, Rayana Smith, remembered her eight-year-old daughter as happy. She identified her daughter as Demeria Hollingsworth.
She said, "When they told me about that, I should have just gone to get my kid. But they were having fun for the summer, and I didn't think she would kill my baby." Smith added, "She liked to read books, go swimming, and play outside. Ride her bike every day, play with the kids in the neighborhood, play with my friends' kids. My baby was sweet."
The mother said, "Last time I seen my baby, she was smiling, giving me kisses, telling me she will see me when it's time for her to come back home. She's never coming back home. She's never coming back home." According to WREG, the mother said it is difficult for her to wrap her head around what happened to her daughter.
She said, "She did nothing to deserve for her life to be taken. She was only eight-years-old. She just turned eight in April." A GoFundMe has been set up to help with the young girl's funeral costs, which has raised over $15,000 at the time of this writing.
Smith said that she hopes that the 12-year-old cousin gets the maximum sentence.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments