Nashville 8-year-old smothered in Gibson County, 12-year-old cousin charged with murder

The Cockrill Elementary community is mourning the loss of a student after she was smothered while visiting family in Humbolt.

Demeria Hollingsworth, 8, died July 15.

Principal Casey Campbell said Hollingsworth was "a beloved student" and had been at Cockrill Elementary since she was in pre-K.

“Demeria was known for her hard work, intelligence, and sweet demeanor," Campbell said in a statement. "She was cherished by everyone who knew her. Her passing has left all of us at Cockrill devastated. She will be greatly missed.”

District Attorney General Frederick Agee, who covers Gibson County in the 28th Judicial District, said in a statement that a 12-year-old cousin was charged in connection with the case.

Video from the home showed the 12-year-old use bedding to suffocate her cousin while she slept, Agee said in the statement.

"After the suffocation, the juvenile cleaned up the victim and repositioned her body," Agee said.

The 12-year-old was charged in juvenile court with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, Agee said, though he is petitioning to have the case moved to Circuit Court and try the girl as an adult.

"I consider this to be one of the most disturbing violent acts committed by either an adult or juvenile that my office has prosecuted," he said.

On Monday, a representative from Agee's office shared that Juvenile Court Judge Mark Johnson has imposed a gag order on the case.

Metro Nashville Public Schools spokesman Sean Braisted said the student support services team is working with the school to provide grief counseling when staff and students return.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville 8-year-old smothered in Gibson County, 12-year-old cousin charged with murder