13-year-old indicted for first degree murder, tampering with evidence
HUMBOLDT, Tenn. — We have a follow-up to a murder case that has left one juvenile being held without bond.
La’Quvanah Parson and Demeria Hollingsworth were visiting their grandmother in July of this year. On Monday, July 15 the Humboldt Police Department responded to a call and Hollingsworth was found unresponsive. In a video found at the home, Parson was seen smothering Hollingsworth and cleaning her body.
“The grand jury returned a true bill indictment for one count of first degree murder and two counts of tampering with evidence regarding the murder of her first cousin Demeria Hollingsworth, who was 8 years old,” said District Attorney General Frederick Agee.
Agee, says that this is one of the worst homicides he has seen.
“The way the homicide happened is also very rare. We’ve had medical examiners reach out to us as far away as New York City to discuss the case and to make sure the medical examiner here in Tennessee was looking for certain things,” said Agee.
Parson, originally from South Carolina, is currently held in a juvenile center in Murfreesboro.
“Being that the defendant at the time of this murder was 12 years old, and is now 13, there’s always a concern that the juvenile court may want to maintain jurisdiction. However, Judge Johnson found probable cause. He also found that this was the right decision to transfer the child to adult court,” said Agee.
A case such as this one is one of the youngest transfers from juvenile court to adult court in modern times.
“Where the defendant, Parson, will have to come to Humboldt, Judge Peoples will read her indictment. We’ll find out whether or not the court should appoint an attorney. That should be set in the next 10 days,” said Agee.
Parson may face a life sentence along with the chance of parole if this case goes to trial.
“However, because she’s a juvenile and the law has recently changed, she would be entitled to a parole hearing after serving between 25 and 36 years with the Tennessee Department of Corrections. That would be if we went to trial–if we got a conviction. Under the law now, juveniles are not treated as adults when regarding first degree murder,” said Agee.
Agee hopes that cases such as this never happen again and asks for prayers for the victim’s family.
“Please keep Demeria’s family, our law enforcement and those of us that will be prosecuting the case in your thoughts and prayers. This is not an easy case, this is a tough case. It’s terrible, horrific homicide. One that we hope we don’t ever see again in Gibson County or the State of Tennessee,” said Agee.
Agee says this indictment by the grand jury was returned as a true bill.
SEE ALSO: Humboldt Police Department confirms death of 8-year-old girl
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