12‑year-old charged in cousin's murder over iPhone dispute
A shocking crime has occurred in the USA. A 12-year-old girl from Tennessee has been charged with the murder of her 8-year-old cousin by suffocation. The victim was sleeping at the time of the crime. Media reports suggest that the girls argued over an iPhone. The prosecutor wants the perpetrator to be tried as an adult.
1:03 PM EDT, July 21, 2024
The media in the USA are abuzz with this unprecedented family crime. While unusual situations and shocking murders involving minors often occur in the United States, such an incident as the one that happened in Humboldt County, Tennessee, is rare.
The murder was allegedly recorded by a camera placed in the bedroom, which had been installed for the safety of the minors. According to media reports, the recording shows the older child suffocating her cousin with the bedding while the younger girl was sleeping. Both were on a bunk bed.
After the child's death, "the juvenile cleaned up the victim and repositioned her body," quoted the AP News Agency, District Attorney Frederick Agee. American investigators have no doubts about the girl's guilt, which is why they decided to charge her with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
The girls were visiting their grandmother and argued over a phone
A family member allegedly told journalists that the girls had come to their grandmother's house from another city for vacation. He added that they argued over an iPhone. The victim is 8-year-old Demeria Hollingsworth, who celebrated her eighth birthday in April. Her mother, Rayana Smith, described her as always smiling, doing well in school, and hugging her younger sister.
She 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," quoted Smith portal WREG. "She did nothing to deserve for her life to be taken."
I consider this to be one of the most disturbing violent acts committed by either an adult or juvenile that my office has prosecuted," quoted AP News prosecutor Agee.
The investigator added that he intends to file a motion with the judge to have the girl tried in adult court. She is set to celebrate her thirteenth birthday at the end of the month. According to journalists, this would allow for a longer sentence, whether in the form of imprisonment or supervision, in accordance with the conditions set by the court.
