A tragic case has left a Seattle community reeling after a 14-year-old boy succumbed to a brutal, hour-long beating allegedly inflicted by his own mother, Denaya Young. The horrifying events unfolded on January 30, 2025, when the 29-year-old mother confronted her son over unfinished chores.
According to reports, Young became enraged after discovering that her son had not cleaned the kitchen. The argument, which had begun the previous night, escalated until Young allegedly shoved her son against a wall. The force of the impact caused him to hit his head and collapse unconscious. Rather than seeking medical attention, she reportedly continued to strike him with an extension cord for nearly an hour as he lay on the floor.
The brutal attack took place in the presence of the boy’s stepfather and his three younger half-siblings, who were likely witnesses to the shocking violence. Young later admitted to authorities that she lost track of how many times she hit her son. She reportedly stopped only when he became unresponsive and called 911 to report the incident. Emergency responders arrived to find the boy unconscious, and he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
A medical examination revealed the severity of the assault, with an astonishing 1,172 injuries documented across the boy’s body. The wounds covered his head, neck, ears, torso, arms, and legs, with experts concluding that he died from blunt force trauma.
Following her arrest, Young admitted that she had gone “too far,” recalling that she kept swinging the cord, ignoring her son’s pleas that he felt dizzy. She told investigators that she believed he was faking his condition and insisted he stand up and complete his chores.
During her court appearance, Young’s attorney, Zelena Jones, argued for her release, citing the immense trauma she was experiencing after losing her son. She contended that further incarceration would add to Young’s suffering, emphasizing that her client had a limited criminal history, cooperated with law enforcement, and lacked substantial resources.
However, the prosecution pushed back, stressing the severity of the crime and the need for justice. Judge Jill Klinge ultimately sided with the prosecution, setting Young’s bail at $3 million. She remains in custody at the King County Jail as the case continues to unfold, leaving the community shaken by the heartbreaking loss of a young life.
