SEATTLE — A Seattle woman was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder for allegedly beating her 14-year-old son to death with an extension cord, court documents state.
According to King County online booking records, Denaya Young, 29, was charged with second-degree in the Jan. 30 death of her 14-year-old son.
Court documents stated that officers with the Seattle Police Department responded to a 911 call for an unresponsive boy in a south Seattle apartment, KIRO reported. Police said that Young had made the call.
Young allegedly told officers that she “went too far” during an hourlong beating of the boy, according to the television station.
The teen, identified as Jemiere Da’metrius James Robinson, was temporarily revived by first responders but died shortly after arriving at Harborview Medical Center, KIRO reported.
Seattle mom beat teen son to death with extension cord, caused over 1,100 injuries: docs https://t.co/bw0qvd3rme
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) February 6, 2025
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office documented at least 1,172 marks on Robinson’s body, including 74 on his face and head, court documents stated.
According to court documents, Young, beat the teen with an extension cord until his heart gave out, KIRO reported. The Medical Examiner’s Office said the boy likely died from Sudden Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) or Distributive Shock.
Court documents define SIRS as “when the body sends blood and blood serum to so many different injuries around the body, attempting to heal them, that it draws enough blood out of the muscles and other vital areas that there is not enough to sustain the heart.”
Young said she lost count of how many times she hit her child. He told her that he was dizzy and kept falling down, but she told officers that she thought he was pretending to get out of cleaning the mess he made, according to court documents.
Documents stated that Young allegedly admitted to losing count of how many times she struck the teen, KIRO reported. He allegedly told Young that he was dizzy and kept falling down, but she said she believed the boy was pretending to get out of his chores.
“He was supposed to be doing chores, he didn’t,” Young allegedly told responding officers, according to court documents. “He was supposed to do them last night. It’s a recurring thing, and then I let my anger get the best of me with the extension cord.”
The boy’s three young siblings were present when the beating occurred, court documents state. The teen’s stepfather was also there but did not intervene. According to court documents, the man told officers that the boy was not his and he believed it was best to mind his own business.
Young is being held in the King County Jail on $3 million bail, online booking records show. Her next court date is an arraignment on Feb. 13.
© 2025 Cox Media Group
