North Carolina Mother Arrested After 13-Year-Old Daughter Found Dead in Filthy Home, Police Say
HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA — A North Carolina mother has been arrested after authorities discovered the body of her 13-year-old daughter inside what police described as a filthy, trash-filled home where she had allegedly neglected both of her children.
According to the High Point Police Department, officers conducted a welfare check at the residence of 44-year-old Kymberli Bowden on October 13. Inside, they found the body of her daughter and the girl’s twin brother, who was still alive but suffering from serious psychological trauma.
Investigators said the home was “filled with trash, rotting food, and unsanitary conditions.”
Police: Mother Failed to Provide Food or Medical Care
In a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, authorities stated that Bowden “failed to provide adequate food” for either of her children and neglected to seek medical treatment for her daughter, leading to her death.
“The failure to provide medical care resulted in serious bodily injury and ultimately her death,” the affidavit read.
Bowden was charged with two counts of child neglect causing serious bodily injury and one count of concealment or failure to report the death of a child.
Police said the surviving child “sustained serious psychological injury and mental harm” as a result of being forced to live with his sister’s body for an extended period — calling it an act of “prolonged neglect” and “extreme trauma.”
Neighbors Shocked by Discovery
Neighbors in Bowden’s High Point neighborhood told local station WGHP FOX8 that they were stunned by the heavy police presence outside the home earlier this month. One witness said Bowden was removed from the house on a gurney on October 13, though authorities did not disclose her condition at the time.
“I saw the officers go in and out for hours,” one neighbor said. “It was heartbreaking when we learned what really happened.”
Authorities have not yet announced who currently has custody of the surviving child.
Ongoing Investigation and Court Proceedings
Bowden was taken into custody on Thursday and booked into the Guilford County Jail on a $1 million bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for November 17, according to jail records.
The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to determine how long the children had been living under such conditions.
Officials say more charges could be filed pending autopsy results and further review of evidence collected from the home.
Community Response and Broader Concerns
The tragic discovery has reignited discussion in High Point about child welfare oversight and the need for stronger community reporting of suspected neglect. Local advocacy groups say the case underscores how easily at-risk children can fall through the cracks.
“This is every social worker’s nightmare,” one local child services advocate told reporters. “No child should ever live — or die — in conditions like that.”
Residents have since begun organizing a neighborhood vigil to honor the young girl and raise awareness about child neglect.
Community members are encouraged to report any signs of child endangerment or neglect to local authorities or the North Carolina Child Protective Services hotline.
For updates on this developing case, follow SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com for the latest information and court coverage.
