‘Mummified’ Child’s Body Found in Hotel Room

A Tennessee mother is behind bars after authorities say they discovered her daughter’s mummified remains inside a Memphis hotel room — a discovery that has left even seasoned investigators shaken.

Kimberly Moore, 46, was arrested on July 11 and charged with abuse of a corpse and failure to report a death, following a disturbing encounter at the Home Inn Suites where she had been staying.

According to a criminal affidavit, hotel staff called deputies after Moore began making bizarre claims, including that her husband owned the hotel. When officers arrived to check on her, she allegedly repeated the same odd statements and insisted she was just there to make sure employees were “doing their job.”

But things took a horrifying turn when deputies noticed a strong, foul odor coming from the room. Moore insisted she didn’t smell anything. Once inside, they made the gruesome discovery — the lifeless body of Moore’s daughter, Chloe Moore, lying in a hotel bed. She was cold, shriveled, malnourished, and surrounded by flies.

The medical examiner later concluded Chloe’s body had been there for a long time. Due to dehydration, her skin had darkened and her body had shrunk, giving her a mummified appearance.

During questioning, Moore refused to cooperate and wouldn’t give a clear statement. Instead, she allegedly told detectives that her daughter was still alive, saying, “God is with her and her daughter,” and that she reads her Bible. Detectives concluded she was in the midst of a mental health crisis and hallucinating that her child was still with her.

Moore is scheduled for a bail review hearing on July 15.

The case has left many stunned and heartbroken, raising serious concerns about unnoticed child neglect and untreated mental health issues. The investigation remains ongoing.

If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or visit www.childhelp.org. Help is confidential, free, and available 24/7 in over 170 languages.