A North Carolina mother faces first-degree murder charges after her 13-year-old daughter died from starvation, weighing just 35 pounds when authorities discovered her body in their High Point home last October.
Horrific Discovery in High Point Home
Kymberli Bowden, 45, received the murder charge Thursday following an autopsy that determined her daughter, identified only as ZT, died from acute necrotizing pneumonia combined with severe malnutrition. Police found the child’s body on October 14, 2025, approximately two days after her death. Family members had contacted authorities after not seeing ZT for months, prompting the welfare check that uncovered the tragedy.
Medical examiners described ZT as extremely emaciated with matted, dirty hair and sunken eyes in a gaunt face. Court records revealed the teen weighed between 63 and 65 pounds at previous doctor visits, making her final weight of 35 pounds a catastrophic decline. Officers discovered her 13-year-old twin brother still alive in the residence, though he lacked proper nutrition, clothing, and sanitary living conditions.
Neighbors Raised Concerns Before Death
High Point Police Department call logs documented multiple welfare checks requested by concerned neighbors asking officers to investigate conditions inside the home. When police finally entered the residence, they found it filled with trash and rotting food throughout. The surviving twin brother suffered serious psychological harm from the neglect, according to court warrants obtained by local media. Authorities immediately arrested Bowden on two counts of felony child abuse and concealing a death when they discovered the scene.
Legal Consequences and Community Impact
Prosecutors filed the first-degree murder charge only after receiving final autopsy results confirming malnutrition as the cause of death. Bowden faces life in prison if convicted on the murder charge. Her next court appearance is scheduled for December. The case highlights failures in child welfare systems when neighbors repeatedly alerted authorities to potential problems. Police records show officers had visited the property multiple times before finding ZT’s body, raising questions about intervention protocols when concerned citizens report suspected child neglect.