Tennessee Pre-Teen Girl Accused of Fatally Suffocating 8-Year-Old Cousin After Fight Over iPhone

A pre-teen girl in Tennessee has been charged with murder after police say she suffocated her young cousin to death.

On July 15, a 12-year-old girl allegedly used bedding to fatally suffocate her 8-year-old cousin while she was sleeping in the top bunk of their bed, according to the 28th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office.

Following the child’s death, the suspect “cleaned up the victim and repositioned her body,” cops said.

The victim’s mother, Rayana Smith, identified her as Demeria Hollingsworth, WREG-TV reported.

Authorities were able to obtain home surveillance footage of the incident.

Hollingsworth and her cousin were visiting family and staying with their grandmother at the time of the incident.

Smith told WREG-TV that an argument over an iPhone led to their issues.

28th Judicial District Attorney General Frederick Agee said the case was one of the “most disturbing, violent acts committed by either an adult or juvenile that my officer has prosecuted.”

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Agee noted law enforcement is seeking to transfer the suspect to circuit court to be tried as an adult. The suspect has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, authorities said.

Smith told WREG-TV, “Last time I seen my baby, she was smiling, giving me kisses, telling me she will see me when it’s time for her to come back home. She never coming back home. She never coming back home.”