From Law & Crime · · 1m 50s
Mom Declines Welfare Check, Dodges Social Workers Before Friend Sees Dead 13-Year-Old Daughter
North Carolina mother jailed for 13-year-old daughter's death after refusing welfare check and evading social workers.
In brief
North Carolina mother jailed for 13-year-old daughter's death after refusing welfare check and evading social workers. Kymberli Bowden, 45, faces first-degree murder charge for 13-year-old daughter's death after allegedly failing to provide adequate food and medical care. Originally reported by Law & Crime.
Kymberli Bowden
Kymberli Bowden, 45, stands accused of one count of first-degree murder for the October 2025 death of her 13-year-old daughter.
“kymberli bowden, 45, stands accused of one count of first-degree murder for the october 2025 death of the girl, who is not being named”
Previous Arrest
Bowden was previously arrested on Oct. 30, 2025, charged with two counts of felony child abuse and one count of concealment of death.
“bowden was previously arrested on october thirty tenth, two thousand twenty-five, in connection with the case and charged with two counts of felony child abuse and one count of concealment of death”
Welfare Check
Police were asked to conduct a welfare check at a residence on East Farris Avenue in High Point, North Carolina.
“the investigation began when officers were asked to conduct a welfare check at a residence on east farris avenue in high point, a large city located roughly 17 miles southwest of greensboro”
Girl's Death
Inside, police found the 13-year-old girl dead and a 13-year-old boy malnourished.
“inside, police found the thirteen-year-old girl dead and a thirteen-year-old boy malnourished”
Cause of Death
The girl's death was ruled a homicide with cause acute necrotizing pneumonia and inanition, or exhaustion, malnutrition or starvation, in the setting of caregiver neglect.
“the girl's death was ruled a homicide, and an autopsy found the cause was acute necrotizing pneumonia and inanition, or exhaustion, malnutrition or starvation, in the setting of caregiver neglect”
Residence Conditions
Investigators also alleged the inside of the residence was filthy and the boy was kept in unsanitary conditions.
“law enforcement said bowden allowed him to remain in a residence filled with trash rotting food and unsanitary conditions”
Warning Signs
Law enforcement made six service calls to Bowden's residence the month the girl died.
“in all law enforcement made six service calls to the defendant's residence the month the girl died”
Previous Complaint
Earlier that month, a woman called police to decline a welfare check over unusual lack of sounds from children.
“earlier that month a woman called police to decline a welfare check that authorities had been asked to perform over an unusual lack of sounds from children”
Caseworker Complaint
A caseworker for a medically fragile child reported Bowden canceled visits with child welfare authorities.
“on the day the girl was found dead a caseworker for a medically fragile child called dispatch to complain that bowden kept canceling visits with child welfare authorities”
No Answer
Officers knocked on the front door but received no answer and left the house.
“officers initially knocked on the front door that day but received no answer and hearing no one stirring inside they left”
Window Discovery
Hours later, a family friend saw an unresponsive child through a window and called police.
“hours later a friend of the family called police to report seeing an unresponsive child through a window in the residence”
Forced Entry
Police and firefighters forced entry into the house and found the teenage girl dead.
“that's when police and firefighters finally forced entry into the house and found the teenage girl dead”
Detention
Bowden is detained in the Guilford County Jail with no bond.
“the defendant is detained in the guilford county jail with no bond”
The short version
Kymberli Bowden, 45, faces first-degree murder charge for 13-year-old daughter's death after allegedly failing to provide adequate food and medical care.
