MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Authorities in Humboldt, Tennessee have charged a 12-year-old girl with first-degree murder after a security camera recorded her suffocating her 8-year-old cousin to death in their shared bunk beds. The incident occurred while the girls were visiting family in Humboldt, according to officials. The shocking footage shows the 12-year-old using “her full body weight” to cover the younger girl’s face with bedding. The 8-year-old struggled briefly before going still. The older girl was then seen wiping the victim’s face and positioning her under the covers.
The Office of the District Attorney General for the 28th Judicial District released a statement expressing the disturbing nature of the crime and the intention to petition for the case to be tried in circuit court for a more serious sentence. While the accused is currently facing being tried as an adult, her attorney’s identity remains undisclosed. The mother of the victim, Rayana Smith, mourned the loss of her daughter, describing her as a cheerful soul who loved reading, swimming, biking, and playing with other children.
The town of Humboldt, located about 100 miles northeast of Memphis, has been left shaken by this tragic incident. The video evidence of the suffocation has led to the girl being charged not only with murder but also with tampering with evidence. Investigative authorities studying the footage have determined that the incident was one of the most violent acts they have prosecuted, regardless of age. The outcome of the case will heavily depend on the judge’s decision to transfer it to circuit court.
As the community grapples with this tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to assist with the funeral costs, illustrating the outpouring of support and compassion from those in the area.