A North Carolina mother has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of her 13-year-old daughter, who weighed just 35 pounds and showed signs of severe malnutrition when her body was examined by a medical examiner.
Kymberli Bowden, 45, was charged on Thursday after an autopsy determined that her daughter, identified in court documents as ZT, died from acute necrotizing pneumonia and inanition, a condition involving severe malnutrition and physical wasting. According to reports by FOX 8 News, the girl’s body was discovered inside Bowden’s home in High Point on October 14, 2025. Authorities said she had been dead for approximately two days.
During court proceedings, prosecutors described the condition of the girl’s body, citing findings from the medical examiner’s examination. They said her hair was matted, dull and dirty, while her ears were also dirty. Her face was gaunt, with visibly sunken areas around her eyes.
The prosecution also described ZT as extremely emaciated. According to medical documentation cited in court, the teenager had previously weighed between 63 and 65 pounds, making the reported weight of 35 pounds at the time of her death a significant decline.
Police were called to Bowden’s home last year after family members reported that they had not seen ZT for several months. When officers arrived, they discovered the girl’s 13-year-old twin brother still living in the house.
The boy was alive but was reportedly living without adequate nutrition, proper clothing or sanitary conditions, according to a warrant obtained by The News & Observer. He survived, although authorities said he had suffered serious psychological harm.
Concerns about the children had also been raised before the discovery. Call logs from the High Point Police Department showed that several neighbors had contacted police to request welfare checks on the children, FOX 8 News reported. Police reports described the home as containing trash and rotten food.
Bowden was initially charged with two counts of felony child abuse and one count of concealing a death. The first-degree murder charge was filed later, after investigators awaited the final determination of the cause of her daughter’s death, according to published reports.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Bowden could face life in prison. Her next court appearance is scheduled for December.
The case has also raised serious concerns about the circumstances in which the surviving twin was living and the condition of the home where both children were found. The criminal proceedings will determine Bowden’s legal responsibility for the allegations against her.
