CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Opening arguments began Tuesday in the case of Cheyenne Maddox following the 2022 death of her son, 13-year-old Kadaris Maddox.

The prosecution stated Kadaris weighed 47 pounds the last time he visited the doctor. According to an autopsy, his weight was down to 35 pounds by the time he died.

“He died of malnutrition and he died of starvation... It was almost if his skin was wrapped around his bones,” Assistant District Attorney Mary O'Connor said.

Davidson County and Metro Nashville Chief Medical Examiner Feng Li, who conducted Kadaris' autopsy, testified that the boy's organs were shrinking from a lack of nutrition, while his body sent nutrients to protect his brain and his heart.

Heartbreaking photos of Kadaris' 35-pound body were shown in court, as Li described legions, marks, and sores around Kadaris' body.

“You can see that the body is cachectic, meaning very, very wasted, and only skin and bone,” Lee said.

Yet the defense called the autopsy's findings "generalizations" and pointed to Kadaris having several healthy blood levels. They described Cheyenne as taking care of not only Kadaris but also her five other children.

“You'll hear from Ms. Maddox," defense attorney Chase Smith said. "She's going to tell you her story, and you have to decide whether she's guilty of intentionally and knowingly murdering a child that she has taken care of by herself for 13 years."

Police recalled finding Kadaris' body cold and without a pulse back when they were called to the family home in July 2022.

One of Kadaris' doctors also went over his cerebral palsy diagnosis, but noted that Kadaris was cognitively intact and was optimistic for his future.

The trial will resume at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/clarksville/trial-begins-for-clarksville-mother-accused-of-starving-son/