Police have brought charges against a 12-year-old Tennessee girl for allegedly suffocating her 9-year-old cousin. Reports say that the unidentified offender murdered her cousin after they had a dispute over an iPhone.
Currently, there are plans to transfer the child from a juvenile to a Circuit Court where she could face a heavier sentence.
Tragedy in Memphis
On Monday, July 15, 2024, tragedy broke out on a lively street in Humboldt, 98 miles northeast of Memphis, Tennessee. After an 8-year-old girl, Demeria Hollingsworth, was found lifeless on her bed.
Hollingsworth was staying at her grandmother’s place for the summer when the incident happened. Family members and neighbors were left devastated by the occurrence, which no one saw coming.
Camera Footage Showed the Tennessee Girl Suffocating the Deceased
Initially, no one could point out the cause of the death until police found a crucial piece of evidence. Police obtained home security footage that showed the unidentified 12-year-old allegedly using bedding to suffocate the younger child.
Shockingly, after ensuring that her mission was successful, the suspect cleaned up the victim’s body before she repositioned it in a bid to cover her tracks.
The Victim’s Mother Speaks
Commenting on the unfortunate incident, the mother of the victim, Rayana Smith, expressed the pain of her child’s loss. Smith, who is yet to recover from the shock, also described her daughter’s character.
In her words, Hollingsworth “liked to read books, go swimming, play outside, ride her bike every day, play with the kids in the neighborhood, play with my friends’ kids. My baby was sweet.”
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The Tennessee Girl Had Argued With the Victim
According to Smith, a while before her daughter died, she heard that her daughter and her alleged killer fought over an iPhone.
“When they told me about that, I should have just gone to get my kid,” she said. “But they were having fun for the summer, and I didn’t think she would kill my baby,” Smith lamented.
Family Found The Deceased Dead on Her Top Bunk Bed
According to reports, both kids slept in the same bunk. The victim slept on the top bunk while the alleged killer slept just below. The Tennessee girl had climbed up the bunk to commit the devastating act.
Also, Rayana Smith revealed that her child only turned 8 in April. “She did nothing to deserve for her life to be taken. She was only 8 years old,” Smith said.
Smith Opened a GoFundMe for Her Daughter
The deceased’s mother has set up a GoFundMe for her daughter. “I just lost my baby, the most beautiful child of God,” she wrote on the crowdfund post. “The pain I’m feeling is unbearable. I have to now live life without her in this crazy world,” she continued.
“I never imagined anything like this would happen, and now I find myself trying to fund a funeral,” she further stated.
Word From the District Attorney
The District Attorney for the 28th Judicial District, Frederick Agee has provided information on the status of the case. The state is charging the Tennessee girl with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
Agee also said his office will send a request to Juvenile Judge Mark Johnson to transfer the Tennessee girl to a Circuit Court where she will face more severe punishment if found guilty.
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A Disturbing Violent Act
Describing how shocking the incident was, Agee referred to it as “one of the most disturbing violent acts committed by either an adult or juvenile that my office has prosecuted.”
If the Juvenile Judge grants Agee’s transfer request, the delinquent child will face a “lengthier sentence, whether that will be through incarceration or supervision with court-ordered conditions,” Agee stated via Facebook.
What Will Happen if the Government Tries the Tennessee Girl as a Juvenile?
Agee is pushing to try the Tennessee girl in a regular court as against a juvenile court. If the court tries her as a juvenile, she will be out of bounds of prosecution as soon as she turns 19.
This means that she will be free from “any further detention, supervision, or court-ordered mental health treatment,” Agee disclosed.
The Victim’s School Has Also Released a Statement
The deceased, Demeria Hollingsworth, until her death, attended Cockrill Elementary School. The school has confirmed this to the press. In addition, they released a statement through the principal, Casey Campbell, about the unfortunate loss.
“The Cockrill community is mourning the unexpected loss of Demeria Hollingsworth, a beloved student,” the statement began. The statement also revealed that the late Hollingsworth had been with the school since Pre-K.
Her School is “Devastated” By Her Death
According to Campbell, Demeria was an example of “hard work, intelligence, and sweet demeanor.” The school held a vigil in honor of the girl who her grandmother Tamara Pullum described as “very energetic, always happy, outgoing, smart.”
“She was cherished by everyone who knew her. Her passing has left all of us at Cockrill devastated. She will be greatly missed,” the school’s statement read.
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