How Could You? Hall of Shame-Kendall Marquese Smith case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Winston-Salem, North Carolina, adoptive mother Kimberly Monique Smith, 39, “has been sentenced after killing her adopted son in what a police lieutenant described as the worst case of abuse he had seen in 16 years.”

She “pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and felony intentional child abuse inflicting serious injury in connection with the death of her five-year-old adopted son Kendall Marquese Smith. She was sentenced to 22 and a half years to 28 years in prison.

The boy and his 6-year-old brother were in foster care and had been placed with Kimberly Smith in August 2019. Kimberly Smith’s adoption of the two was finalized in early April 2021, months before Kendall Smith died.

At 9:47 p.m. on June 6, 2021, Winston-Salem police officers and EMS received a report of an unresponsive child on the 2300 block of Whisperwood Street in Winston-Salem.

At the scene, officers found the child, who had no pulse and was not breathing. Kendall Smith was rushed to Brenner’s Children’s Hospital, but, despite attempts to save his life, the child died.

A 6-year-old child was also found in the home, and EMS identified signs of trauma and injury. The child was taken into protective custody.

Winston-Salem Police Lt. Gregory Dorn described the situation as the worst case of abuse he’s seen in 16 years.

According to the Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office, Kimberly Smith initially told investigators that she was playing with Kendall Smith when he was injured accidentally. She said she threw the boy into the air, tripped over her other child and dropped Kendall Smith on his head.

She later changed her story, telling investigators that the child was hurt while she was punishing him. In her words, she “went too far,” according to the DA’s office.

The medical examiner determined the blunt force trauma that the child suffered was not consistent with either of Kimberly Smith’s explanations and did not appear to be accidental.”

Woman sentenced for killing 5-year-old adopted son in Winston-Salem; examiner said injuries not consistent with accidental trauma
[Fox 8 1/30/24 by Justyn Melrose, Daniel Pierce]

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