MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A woman has been arrested after she was found with her daughter’s “mummified” dead body, Memphis Police say.
Kimberly Moore, 46, has been charged with abuse of a corpse and failure to report the discovery of a dead body.
According to court documents, deputies responded to the Home Inn Suites on Lowrance Road on Thursday. The manager had reportedly asked for a welfare check on Moore due to statements she had made about her husband “owning” the hotel.
Court documents say that deputies met Moore and were not initially “alarmed” by anything she said or did. Moore allegedly repeated the claim that her husband owned the hotel and told deputies that she was there to make sure the employees were doing their job.
However, while talking to her, deputies reportedly “smelled a strong odor emitting from the room.” Court documents claim that deputies asked Moore about the smell, but she acted as if she didn’t smell anything and began to “act strange.”
Court documents say that deputies checked the room and found Moore’s daughter lying in the bed. Moore’s daughter was reportedly cold to the touch, malnourished, and “mummified.”
The medical examiner was called to the scene. According to court documents, the medical examiner ruled that Moore’s daughter had been there “for quite some time.”
Detectives reportedly also found flies on her body.
Moore was taken into custody. Court documents say that Moore was found to be “in a state of mental crisis” and was evaluated. Moore reportedly told detectives that her daughter “is still with her” and that God was with her and her daughter.
Court documents say that Moore was asked if she had slept or eaten, but she refused to answer. Moore allegedly repeated that God was with her and stated that she “reads her Bible.”
Detectives determined that Moore was suffering from hallucinations of her daughter still being alive. Moore was transported to a healthcare facility for further evaluation.
Moore is currently booked in Shelby County Jail East. No bond has been set for her.
