This week, a Tennessee mother faced trial on charges linked to the tragic starvation death of her 13-year-old son, as prosecutors unveiled the grim details of the suspected abuse.

Cheyenne Maddox, aged 35, is being held accountable for first-degree murder and severe child neglect in connection with the 2022 demise of Kadaris Maddox. Under Tennessee law, a conviction could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

Emergency responders arrived at the Maddox residence on Virginia Terrace, Clarksville, on the afternoon of July 6, 2022, where they encountered a distressing scene. According to the Clarksville Police Department, Kadaris was declared deceased shortly after their arrival.

The household was in a state of chaos, with an officer noting the floor was obscured by heaps of trash, reported Clarksville Now. Kadaris’ bedroom was notably sparse, containing only a mattress, pillow, comforter, drying rack, and some electronic items. Outside, a detective observed a wheelchair that appeared “weathered” by the elements.

As reported by Nashville’s ABC affiliate WKRN, Kadaris suffered from cerebral palsy. Nevertheless, a physician noted he remained mentally sharp and hopeful about what lay ahead for him.

Prosecutors this week said Kadaris weighed 47 pounds the last time he visited a doctor. When he died, his weight was reportedly down to about 35 pounds. He was “just skin and bones,” Clarksville police officer Joshua Clegg testified. He said he was the first officer to arrive at the scene, and several other children let him into the residence.

As Law&Crime previously reported, Cheyenne Maddox was initially charged with five counts of aggravated child neglect because of the living conditions for the other kids. While she posted a surety bond for the child neglect charges, she was later charged with murdering Kadaris.

“He died of malnutrition and he died of starvation,” Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Mary O’Connor said in court. “It was almost [as] if his skin was wrapped around his bones.”

Dawn Maddox, Cheyenne’s mother and Kadaris’ grandmother, told Clarksville Now a month after her daughter’s arrest that she knew her grandson died because of parental mistreatment.

“It’s hard to say how I feel because that is my daughter and I love her. How could she do something like this? Because he was a good baby,” she said.

A memorial was held for Kadaris in November 2022. Dawn Maddox said on that day that “there was a lot of people that loved him because he brought so much joy into the world,” per WKRN. “Just to look at him, when he smiled, his eyes, he just lit up a room. An angel was taken the day he passed away.”

The trial has taken an emotional toll on many involved. As photos taken during Kadaris’ autopsy were shown in court this week, multiple jurors reportedly had to wipe tears from their eyes. The trial resumed on Wednesday morning.