Judge issues gag order in case against 12-year-old charged with murder

GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A 12-year-old girl accused of suffocating her 8-year-old cousin while they were staying with their grandmother in Humboldt, Tennessee for the summer appeared in court on Friday.

According to the District Attorney, video evidence shows the 12-year-old suffocating 8-year-old Demaria Hollingsworth with bedding, then cleaning up the victim and repositioning the body.

The cousin who will soon turn 13 is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

While in court, Juvenile Court Judge Mark Johnson issued a “gag order,” meaning the District Attorney could not offer comment on the case.

“I would recommend that you contact Judge Johnson and find out what you’re entitled to and what you’re not entitled to. But I’m going to obey his order and he issued a gag order,” said Fred Agee, District Attorney.

However, the Court Clerk officer says they could not comment on the case because it involved a juvenile under the age of 14.

Family members at the hearing also declined to comment.

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