A 12-year-old girl has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly suffocating her 8-year-old cousin during a fight over an iPhone at their grandmother’s house.
According to authorities, the incident occurred on Monday in Humboldt, Tennessee, when the two girls were left unsupervised at the residence.
Home security footage allegedly captured the 12-year-old using bedding to smother her younger cousin, Demeria Hollingsworth. The footage then shows the older girl cleaning up the scene and repositioning the body.
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The 8-year-old was found unresponsive later that day and pronounced dead at the scene. The 12-year-old, who will turn 13 next week, has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
Prosecutor Frederick Agee expressed the disturbing nature of the crime, calling it one of the most violent acts he has prosecuted in his career. He is petitioning for the 12-year-old to be tried as an adult.
“I consider this to be one of the most disturbing violent acts committed by either an adult or juvenile that my office has prosecuted. Due to the horrendous nature of this crime and under Tennessee Law the Juvenile Court loses jurisdiction after a juvenile turns 19, and therefore, the juvenile would be free from any further detention, supervision, or court-ordered mental health treatment, our Office is petitioning Juvenile Judge Mark Johnson to transfer the delinquent child to Circuit Court to be tried as an adult, which allows for a lengthier sentence, whether that will be through incarceration or supervision with court-ordered conditions,” said Office of the District Attorney General, 28th Judicial District.
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