High Point, N.C. — The tragic death of a 13-year-old girl has led to multiple investigations and questions about the involvement of local authorities, as new documents reveal troubling circumstances leading up to the discovery of her body. The girl’s mother, Kymberli Bowden, is now facing serious legal charges that include felony child abuse and concealing a death.
On October 13, police found the girl deceased in a residence on East Farris Avenue. Bowden was arrested more than two weeks later, raising concerns about the response time and effectiveness of prior interventions by law enforcement and social services. Call logs reveal that police received at least six reports regarding the home in October alone, with several focused on the welfare of the children.
Among those calls was one made on October 4, during which a woman inside the home indicated that she did not need assistance after a family member threatened to request a welfare check. Another caller that same day expressed concerns about hearing no sound from the children, which the police noted as unusual. Officers responded but found no reason to intervene further beyond advising the concerned parties to contact the Department of Social Services.
On the fateful day of her daughter’s discovery, a caseworker for a child identified as “medically fragile” voiced concerns to the police about Bowden’s consistent cancellation of appointments. It was reported that the child had not been seen since May. Despite knocking on the door multiple times, officers detected no signs of activity inside and advised the caseworker once again to reach out to social services.
Later that day, a family friend looked through a window and discovered the 13-year-old unresponsive. Emergency responders forced entry and confirmed the tragic findings. Investigations indicate that Bowden had failed to provide necessary food and medical care, contributing to her daughter’s death. Authorities reported that the home was in deplorable condition, filled with trash and spoiled food. Bowden’s son, the girl’s twin, was found malnourished but alive.
Court records show that Bowden, a certified nursing assistant, had been compensated for providing care for her children. She is currently being held on a one-million-dollar bond and faces a potential prison sentence of at least 18 years if convicted. Prosecutors have indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming.
In response to inquiries about prior complaints or existing cases related to Bowden, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged the emotional toll of the child’s death but did not provide specific information. They stated that reviews of child fatalities related to abuse are standard protocol but offered no details concerning Bowden’s case.
Community members expressed shock over the events, noting that Bowden had seemed to change significantly after her husband’s death a few years prior. Neighbors observed that her children had stopped playing outside and that Bowden had become increasingly withdrawn and sorrowful. While they admitted the family’s decline, they also indicated they had not noticed significant police activity at the residence prior to the girl’s death.
The High Point Police Department has yet to comment publicly on the specifics of their welfare check protocols or how officers are trained to handle such cases. As the investigation continues, many in the community are left grappling with the tragic outcome and the circumstances that allowed it to unfold.