13-year-old charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. – We are following up on a murder case in which a juvenile is being held without bond.

La'Quvanah Parson and Demeria Hollingsworth visited their grandmother in July of this year. On Monday, July 15, Humboldt Police responded to a call and Hollingsworth did not respond. A video found in the house showed Parson suffocating Hollingsworth and cleaning her body.

“The grand jury has returned a true indictment of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of tampering with evidence in connection with the murder of her first cousin, Demeria Hollingsworth, who was eight years old,” said District Attorney Frederick Agee.

Agee says this is one of the worst murders he has ever seen.

“The manner in which the murder happened is also very rare. We were contacted by coroners as far away as New York City to discuss the case and make sure the coroner was looking for certain things here in Tennessee,” Agee said.

Parson, originally from South Carolina, is currently being held at a juvenile center in Murfreesboro.

“Since the defendant was 12 years old at the time of this murder and is now 13 years old, there is always concern that the juvenile court may want to retain jurisdiction. However, Judge Johnson found probable cause. He also concluded that committing the child to adult court was the right decision,” Agee said.

A case like this is one of the most recent transfers from juvenile court to adult court in modern times.

“Where defendant Parson must come to Humboldt, Judge Peoples will read her indictment. We will find out whether the court should appoint a lawyer or not. That should be determined in the next 10 days,” Agee said.

Parson could face life in prison and the possibility of parole if this case goes to trial.

“However, because she is a minor and the law has recently changed, she would be eligible for a parole hearing after serving between 25 and 36 years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections. That would be the case if we were in court – if we got a conviction. Under current law, juveniles are not treated as adults in first-degree murder cases,” Agee said.

Agee hopes cases like this never happen again and asks for prayers for the victim's family.

“Please keep Demeria’s family, our law enforcement, and those of us prosecuting the case in your thoughts and prayers. This is not an easy case, this is a difficult case. It's a terrible, terrible murder. One that we hope we never see again in Gibson County or the state of Tennessee,” Agee said.

Agee says this grand jury indictment was a majority decision.

SEE ALSO: Humboldt Police Department confirms death of 8-year-old girl

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