High Point, North Carolina — A 45-year-old mother is facing a first-degree murder charge following the death of her 13-year-old daughter, who weighed just 35 pounds and showed signs of extreme malnutrition, according to reports citing court records and authorities.
Kymberli Bowden was charged with murder after an autopsy identified the girl’s cause of death as acute necrotizing pneumonia and inanition, a condition involving severe malnutrition and physical wasting. The child, identified in court as ZT, was found dead inside the family’s home on October 14, 2025.
Authorities said the girl had likely been dead for approximately two days before her body was discovered. The case has also raised concerns about the living conditions of her surviving twin brother, who was found inside the same residence.
Autopsy Reveals Severe Malnutrition
According to reports, the autopsy findings led prosecutors to pursue a first-degree murder charge against Bowden.
During court proceedings, prosecutors described the condition of the teenager’s body, citing the medical examiner’s observations of extreme emaciation, matted and dirty hair, a gaunt face and sunken areas around her eyes.
The prosecution also noted that the girl had previously weighed between 63 and 65 pounds, based on recent medical documentation.
At the time of her death, however, she weighed only 35 pounds, according to reports.
The autopsy identified acute necrotizing pneumonia and inanition as the causes of death. Inanition refers to severe physical wasting associated with inadequate nourishment.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s decline and the events that preceded her death.
Police Discover Two Children Inside the Home
High Point police officers were called to Bowden’s home after family members reportedly expressed concern because they had not seen ZT for months.
When officers arrived on October 14, 2025, they discovered the 13-year-old girl’s body. Her twin brother was also inside the home and was still alive, authorities said.
According to a warrant, the boy lacked access to adequate nutrition, appropriate clothing and sanitary living conditions when authorities found him.
Although he survived, reports indicate that he suffered serious psychological harm.
The discovery prompted a wider investigation into the conditions in which the children had been living and whether warning signs had been reported before the incident.
Reports Describe Trash and Rotten Food Inside the House
Police records reportedly described the interior of the home as containing trash and rotten food.
High Point Police Department call logs also showed that concerned neighbors had contacted authorities on several occasions, requesting welfare checks on the children inside the residence.
Those reports have become part of the broader public account of the case, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the children’s living conditions and whether earlier intervention could have changed the outcome.
Authorities have not publicly established every detail of what happened during the months before ZT’s death.
Mother Initially Faced Child Abuse Charges
Bowden was initially charged with two counts of felony child abuse and concealing a death, according to police.
The first-degree murder charge was filed later, after investigators awaited the final determination of the teenager’s cause of death, according to published reports. The new charge significantly increases the potential legal consequences she faces.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Bowden could face life imprisonment. The outcome will depend on the evidence presented in court and the legal proceedings that follow.
The allegations remain subject to the judicial process, and a criminal charge is not the same as a conviction.
Court Proceedings Expected to Continue
Bowden’s next court date was reported as scheduled for December. Further proceedings are expected to address the murder charge and the other allegations against her.
The case has drawn attention to the circumstances of the teenager’s death, the condition of her surviving twin brother and previous reports of concerns about the children.
Investigators’ findings, medical evidence and testimony presented in court will be central to determining the facts surrounding ZT’s death.
For now, the murder charge marks a significant development in a case that began with the discovery of a 13-year-old girl who authorities say suffered from extreme malnutrition.
What are your thoughts on this case and the importance of responding to warning signs involving children? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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