Clarksville, TN – A Tennessee mother accused of starving her 13-year-old son to death appeared in court this week, as prosecutors revealed harrowing details of alleged long-term neglect and abuse. Cheyenne Maddox, 35, faces first-degree murder and aggravated child neglect charges in the 2022 death of her son, Kadaris Maddox, who weighed only 35 pounds when he died.
The Incident: 13-Year-Old Found Dead in Deplorable Conditions
Authorities responded to the Maddox family’s home on Virginia Terrace in Clarksville on July 6, 2022, where they discovered Kadaris unresponsive. He was pronounced dead shortly after officers arrived, according to the Clarksville Police Department.
Police described the scene as filthy and chaotic. One officer testified that the house was so cluttered with trash “he could not see the floor.” Kadaris’s bedroom was bare except for a mattress, a pillow, and a drying rack. In the yard, officers found a weathered wheelchair, a haunting symbol of the boy’s deteriorating condition.
“He was just skin and bones,” said Clarksville Police Officer Joshua Clegg, the first to arrive on scene. He recalled that other children in the home let him inside before paramedics confirmed that Kadaris was already deceased.
Investigation and Medical Evidence
According to prosecutors, Kadaris suffered from cerebral palsy, but doctors said he was cognitively healthy and optimistic about his future. His last recorded medical appointment showed him weighing 47 pounds — but by the time of his death, his weight had dropped to just 35 pounds.
Assistant District Attorney Mary O’Connor told jurors that Kadaris’s death was the result of prolonged starvation and malnutrition.
“He died of malnutrition and he died of starvation,” O’Connor said. “It was almost as if his skin was wrapped around his bones.”
The autopsy photos, shown in court during the trial, reportedly caused several jurors to cry as the extent of the child’s suffering became evident.
Investigators said the home’s condition and the boy’s physical state pointed to a pattern of neglect that had been ongoing for months.
Court Proceedings and Charges
Initially, Cheyenne Maddox was charged with five counts of aggravated child neglect after police found other children living in similar conditions. She posted bond on those charges but was later re-arrested and indicted for first-degree murder following Kadaris’s autopsy results.
Prosecutors allege that Maddox intentionally withheld food and medical care from her disabled son, leading to his slow death. Under Tennessee law, a conviction for first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence, and prosecutors have indicated they may seek the death penalty due to the “heinous nature” of the crime.
The defense has not publicly commented on its strategy but is expected to argue that mental health issues and lack of resources contributed to the tragedy.
Family Reactions: A Grandmother’s Grief and Anger
Dawn Maddox, Cheyenne’s mother and Kadaris’s grandmother, spoke publicly about her heartbreak following her grandson’s death.
“It’s hard to say how I feel because that is my daughter and I love her,” she told Clarksville Now. “How could she do something like this? Because he was a good baby.”
She said the family knew something was wrong before the tragedy unfolded, but never imagined it would end in death by starvation.
A memorial for Kadaris was held in November 2022, attended by dozens of community members. “There were a lot of people who loved him because he brought so much joy into the world,” Dawn said. “Just to look at him, when he smiled, his eyes lit up a room. An angel was taken the day he passed away.”
Background and Context: Neglect and Disability in the System
The case has raised pressing questions about child welfare oversight and how agencies monitor at-risk children with disabilities. Child advocacy experts say this tragedy underscores systemic failures that often leave special needs children vulnerable when caregivers stop engaging with doctors or schools.
Medical professionals have noted that cerebral palsy does not inherently cause fatal weight loss, suggesting that Kadaris’s condition was entirely preventable with proper nutrition and care.
Ongoing Developments and Next Steps
The trial began this week and is expected to continue through the end of the month. Prosecutors plan to call medical experts, police officers, and family members to testify about the extent of Kadaris’s suffering.
Several jurors reportedly wiped tears as graphic images were displayed during testimony. The defense will present its case next week.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Cheyenne Maddox faces life in prison or the death penalty. The aggravated child neglect charges could carry additional decades of imprisonment.
Conclusion
The death of 13-year-old Kadaris Maddox has devastated the Clarksville community and drawn attention to the horrors of child neglect and abuse. As the trial continues, prosecutors say their goal is to ensure justice for a child who was denied the care, love, and dignity he deserved.
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