Tragic Incident in Tennessee: 12-Year-Old Charged with First-Degree Murder of 8-Year-Old Cousin

True Crime Lounge
6 min readJul 19, 2024

In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Humboldt, Tennessee, a 12-year-old girl has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly suffocating her 8-year-old cousin in a bunk bed they shared. The incident, which occurred in July 2024, has left many grappling with questions about juvenile crime, mental health, and the justice system’s approach to young offenders.

Demeria Hollingsworth, 8

The Incident

According to District Attorney General Frederick H. Agee, the tragic event took place on Monday, July 15, 2024, in Humboldt, Tennessee. The two young girls, who were cousins, were visiting family in the area when the incident occurred. They were sharing a bunk bed at the time.

Home security footage, obtained by Humboldt Police Department investigators, reportedly captured the horrifying sequence of events. The video shows the 12-year-old girl, who was set to turn 13 the following week, using bedding to suffocate her 8-year-old cousin who was sleeping on the top bunk.

In a chilling detail that speaks to the premeditated nature of the act, the video then shows the older girl cleaning up the victim and repositioning her body after the suffocation. This action has led to an additional charge of tampering…

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