CARY, N.C. – A 33-year-old mother in North Carolina is currently being charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury after her 10-year-old son was found dead and decomposing in their home. Priyanka Tiwari was taken into custody on Thursday morning following the discovery made by the Morrisville Police Department.
Police responded to a 911 call from Tiwari herself on Wednesday evening, reporting an unresponsive boy at their residence on Craigmeade Drive. Upon arrival, authorities found the child already deceased. The state of the body indicated that a significant amount of time had passed since the boy’s death. The body was in a state of rigor mortis and visibly decomposed.
During a search of the home, law enforcement found minimal food. Investigators believe Tiwari intentionally starved her son to death, with neglect and abuse as contributing factors. Tiwari had contacted the police once before, in March of this year, requesting assistance retrieving personal items while her husband was leaving. At the time, the boy appeared to be in good health. However, police were called to the residence eight times in the past year by concerned family members in India, who could not reach Tiwari.
The tragic death of the child has had a profound impact on the community and his surviving family. Morrisville Chief of Police Pete Acosta expressed his sympathy for the family, particularly for the relatives who not only lost a child but also saw a daughter being arrested. An official determination of the manner and cause of death is pending further evidence and an autopsy. The child’s autopsy is scheduled for Thursday morning.
The arrest warrant said the child’s mother, 33-year-old Priyanka Tiwari, “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did of malice aforethought kill and murder [her 10-year-old son].” Tiwari is currently being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on January 11. If convicted, she faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole. This heartbreaking case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in protecting the well-being of children and the devastating consequences of negligence and abuse.