CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — A 35-year-old mother, Cheyenne Maddox, is standing trial this week on first-degree murder and aggravated child neglect charges in the heartbreaking 2022 death of her 13-year-old son, Kadaris Maddox, who authorities say was starved to death inside their Clarksville home.
Disturbing Details Revealed in Court
According to prosecutors, first responders arrived at the family’s home on Virginia Terrace on July 6, 2022, to a horrifying scene. Kadaris, who lived with cerebral palsy, was found unresponsive and pronounced dead shortly after.
Clarksville Police officers described the house as being in severe disarray, with trash covering the floor and bare rooms. Officer Joshua Clegg, one of the first on the scene, testified that Kadaris’ bedroom contained only a mattress, pillow, comforter, drying rack, and some electronic equipment. A weathered wheelchair sat in the yard, adding to the tragic picture of neglect.
“He was just skin and bones,” Officer Clegg said during testimony, recalling the devastating sight.
Prosecutors Describe Severe Starvation
During opening statements, Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Mary O’Connor told jurors that Kadaris died from severe malnutrition and starvation, comparing his body to skin wrapped around bone.
“He died of malnutrition, and he died of starvation,” O’Connor said. “It was almost as if his skin was wrapped around his bones.”
Court testimony revealed that the boy weighed 47 pounds at his last doctor’s visit but had dropped to about 35 pounds by the time of his death.
Despite living with cerebral palsy, doctors said Kadaris was cognitively intact and remained hopeful about his future, as per the reports.
Neglect and Previous Charges
Following the investigation, Maddox was initially charged with five counts of aggravated child neglect for the condition of her other children in the home. She was later released on bond, but the case escalated when prosecutors filed murder charges after the autopsy confirmed the cause of death as starvation.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Maddox faces life in prison or potentially the death penalty, as permitted under Tennessee law.
Family’s Heartbreak and Grief
The case has deeply affected the Maddox family, particularly Dawn Maddox, Cheyenne’s mother and Kadaris’ grandmother. Speaking to Clarksville Now shortly after her daughter’s arrest, she expressed shock and sorrow.
“It’s hard to say how I feel because that is my daughter and I love her,” Dawn said. “How could she do something like this? Because he was a good baby.”
A memorial for Kadaris was held in November 2022, where loved ones remembered him as a bright and joyful child.
“There were a lot of people that loved him because he brought so much joy into the world,” Dawn said at the memorial. “Just to look at him, when he smiled, his eyes lit up a room. An angel was taken the day he passed away.”
Emotional Testimony in the Courtroom
As the trial continues, the graphic autopsy photos shown in court brought jurors to tears. Several reportedly wiped their eyes as evidence was presented detailing the young boy’s suffering.
The proceedings resumed on Wednesday morning, with prosecutors expected to call additional witnesses to further outline the alleged abuse and neglect that led to Kadaris’ death.
Do you think justice will be served for Kadaris? Share your thoughts in the comments below — we’d like to hear your perspective on this heartbreaking case.
