Twin Tragedy in High Point: Mother Charged After Daughter Dies, Son Survives
The quiet neighborhood of High Point, North Carolina, has been shaken to its core following the shocking discovery inside the home of 44-year-old Kymberli Bowden, a woman once trusted to care for others. What began as a routine welfare check on October 13 ended with police uncovering a scene of unimaginable neglect — one child dead, another barely surviving, and a mother now behind bars facing serious felony charges.
When officers arrived at Bowden’s residence, what they found defied comprehension. The house, described by investigators as toxic and unlivable, was filled with rotting food, overflowing trash, and filth covering nearly every surface. Amid the decay, they discovered the body of Bowden’s 13-year-old daughter, whose name has not been released due to her age, and her surviving twin brother, who was alive but severely malnourished and psychologically traumatized.
According to court documents, the daughter’s death resulted from starvation and lack of medical care, conditions that authorities say developed over an extended period. Her twin brother, who had been living in the same environment, was found with little more than the clothes on his back, showing signs of prolonged neglect and emotional suffering.
Emergency personnel at the scene described the interior as resembling an abandoned structure rather than a family home. Mold and refuse coated the floors, and the smell of decay permeated every room. Investigators later revealed that the surviving child had no access to proper nutrition or hygiene and had been left to fend for himself amid the worsening conditions — even as his sister’s health declined fatally.
Kymberli Bowden, who worked as a certified nursing assistant and was known locally for providing childcare services, now faces multiple charges including felony child abuse, neglect resulting in serious injury, and concealment of death. Prosecutors allege that Bowden’s inaction directly led to her daughter’s death and caused her son long-term trauma. She is currently being held in jail on a $1 million bond, and her next court appearance is expected later this year.
The surviving child was immediately placed under protective care and is receiving both medical and psychological treatment. Social services and trauma specialists are now involved to ensure his recovery and long-term well-being. Authorities have not disclosed whether relatives will assume custody, citing privacy concerns.
Neighbors expressed disbelief upon learning the details. Many described Bowden as “friendly, quiet, and normal,” saying they had no reason to suspect anything was wrong inside her home. “She always seemed polite,” one resident said. “We had no idea what was happening behind those walls.”
Police say the investigation is far from over. They are examining how long the children lived under these conditions, whether anyone else was aware of the situation, and if any mandatory reporters or agencies missed warning signs. The autopsy report for the deceased child is still pending, which officials say will shed light on the full extent of her suffering.
Authorities have also confirmed that child protective services had no recent record of intervention at Bowden’s address, though they are reviewing whether prior complaints or welfare checks were made in years past.
The case has sparked outrage and grief across High Point, a city unaccustomed to crimes of such cruelty. Community leaders are calling for renewed efforts to identify and assist at-risk families before tragedies like this occur. “It’s heartbreaking,” said one local pastor. “Two innocent children were failed in every possible way.”
As the legal process unfolds, Bowden remains behind bars, facing a lifetime of consequences for the horror that unfolded under her roof. The story of her children — one gone too soon, the other left to heal from unthinkable trauma — serves as a painful reminder of how neglect, even in plain sight, can remain invisible until it’s far too late.
For those living nearby, the once-ordinary house on that quiet High Point street has become a symbol of grief — and a question that haunts everyone who knew her: How could this have happened, and why did no one see it coming?