District Attorney shares details on death of 8-year-old child

On July 17, 2024, our office received information that a home security video existed regarding the death of an 8-year-old child, who died on Monday, July 15, in Humboldt. This video was obtained by Humboldt Police Department Investigators Kenny Rich and Tony Williams and District Attorney Investigator Jimmy Wilson. These investigators, Chief Dan Ables, Assistant D.A. Scott Kirk, and I reviewed the video footage.

This video showed the 12-year-old female juvenile (who will turn 13 next week) use bedding to suffocate her 8-year-old cousin, while the victim was sleeping in the top bunk of bunk beds they shared. After the suffocation, the juvenile cleaned up the victim and repositioned her body.

The Humboldt Police Department filed a Petition of Delinquency charging the juvenile with First Degree Murder. Also added will be a charge of Tampering with Evidence.

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.

Neither the victim nor the charged juvenile were residents of Humboldt or local area; they both were visiting family.

Please keep the Victim’s Family and the Humboldt Police Department in your thoughts and prayers.

Frederick H. Agee, District Attorney General

SEE ALSO: New evidence suggests 8-year-old was murdered by her cousin, who was 12