CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Cheyenne Dawn Maddox was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for the 2022 death of her disabled 13-year-old son, Kadaris Maddox.
Judge William Goodman III ordered Maddox to serve three years for reckless homicide and 17 years for aggravated child abuse, to be served concurrently.
Maddox was found guilty in October 2025 of reckless homicide and aggravated child abuse. She had originally been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child neglect following Kadaris’ death on July 6, 2022.
Reckless homicide is a Class D felony that carries a sentence of two to four years, while aggravated child abuse is a Class A felony punishable by 15 to 25 years.
Death ruled homicide by malnutrition
The autopsy report states that Kadaris died as a result of malnutrition. As previously reported by Clarksville Now, he was approximately 46 inches tall and weighed just 35 pounds at the time of his death.
Joshua Clegg, a patrol officer with the Clarksville Police Department who was first on the scene in 2022, described Kadaris as “severely emaciated, just skin and bones.” The kitchen and freezer were packed with food, and there were canned goods across the floor.
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During the trial, Kadaris’ pediatrician and a former home nurse testified about his dramatic weight loss and the conditions inside the home in the months leading up to his death.
After two days of deliberation, the jury convicted Maddox of the lesser charge of reckless homicide and found her guilty of aggravated child abuse.
Questions surrounding DCS involvement
Kadaris’ death raised questions about the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and how child abuse reports are handled. An anonymous source previously told Clarksville Now that some aspects of the tragedy may have been preventable if the state agency had acted differently.
Carla Aaron, deputy commissioner for the Tennessee Office of Child Safety, previously explained that reports to the Child Abuse Hotline are investigated according to severity levels, with collaboration between case managers, law enforcement and the Department of Human Services in cases of death or sexual abuse. At the time, Montgomery County was operating with staffing shortages and high caseloads.
During Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Goodman referenced DCS involvement. “This case was particularly disturbing in the sense that – it does not diminish the actions of Mrs. Maddox at all – but the proof was DCS visited the home shortly before the death of the child. … Nothing was done,” he said.
This article will be updated with reaction to the sentencing.
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