Tavares to host vigil for 10-year-old who died after alleged torture, abuse by mother and boyfriend
The Brief
The Tavares Police Department will host a candlelight vigil next weekend for Xavier Williams, the 10-year-old boy who died Friday after allegedly suffering severe abuse and neglect at the hands of his mother and his mother's boyfriend.
The candlelight vigil will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at Wooton Park in Downtown Tavares.
Family members are asking the community to wear Xavier's favorite color, blue, as a gesture of unity and love at the event.
TAVARES, Fla. - The Tavares Police Department will host a candlelight vigil next weekend for Xavier Williams, the 10-year-old boy who died Friday after allegedly suffering severe abuse and neglect at the hands of his mother and his mother's boyfriend.
Local perspective
The candlelight vigil will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at Wooton Park in Downtown Tavares.
Xavier's family is inviting everyone in the community to join them in the "moment of remembrance and gratitude for your overwhelming support during this time," police said in a press release on Saturday.
"Let us come together to show our love, compassion and solidarity as we celebrate Xavier's life and the joy he brought to those around him," police said. "Let us gather as one community, honoring Xavier and surrounding his family with the strength of our care and kindness."
Family members are asking the community to wear Xavier's favorite color, blue, as a gesture of unity and love at the event.
"Our department has been unwavering in our efforts from the very beginning," the Tavares Police Department said in an updated statement on Saturday. "This little boy showed incredible courage and strength, holding on for as long as he could. His bravery and spirit have deeply touched us all. Though his loss is immeasurable, we will carry his memory with us as we continue to fight for a swift and just resolution for him and his brother. We humbly ask that you keep his younger brother, father, extended family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this unimaginably difficult time. Together, we will stand strong, united by his legacy and inspired by his strength."
What you can do
Those who wish to offer additional support to the family can do so through the Tavares Police Charity or through a GoFundMe page set up for the family to provide further assistance.
The backstory
Xavier died Friday after suffering severe abuse and neglect, according to the Tavares Police Department.
RELATED:Boy dies after alleged torture, abuse by mother, her boyfriend; enhanced charges expected
Detectives are actively investigating the case, working with the State Attorney's Office to enhance charges against the suspects, Kimberley Mills, the boy's mother, and Andre Walker, Mills' boyfriend.
Xavier's younger brother, aged 9, was also a victim of abuse, officials allege.
Mills and Walker are both facing multiple charges related to the alleged abuse of both boys.
These were the charges prior to Xavier's death, but authorities anticipate that charges will be enhanced.
Kimberley Mills
Two counts of aggravated child abuse
Two counts of child neglect
One count of tampering with evidence
Two counts of accessory to aggravated child abuse
Andre Walker
Two counts of aggravated child abuse
Two counts of accessory to aggravated child abuse
One count of tampering with evidence
Officers said both Mills and Walker had refused to cooperate with the investigation.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines
Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar
Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines
FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV
The Source
This story was written based on information gathered from previous reporting, as well as information shared by the Tavares Police Department in a new release on March 22, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
CT woman dies in Northern Ireland crash. She was known as ‘truly a beautiful person inside and out'
A Windsor woman, wife and mother of two died after being struck by a car while vacationing in Northern Ireland. The news of the passing of Allison Eichner last Wednesday was confirmed by two European news organization and a GoFundMe drive back home in Connecticut. 'With heavy hearts, we share the sudden and heartbreaking loss of our dear friend, Allison Eichner. Allison was truly a beautiful person — inside and out — with a kindness and generosity that radiated through everything she did. She had a gift for making everyone around her feel seen, loved, and truly cared for,' the GoFundMe post said. 'Allison was a devoted wife to Dan and an amazing mom to their two beautiful boys, Sean and Joey. Her love for her family was limitless, and her greatest joy was being their rock, their safe place, and their biggest cheerleader,' it said. The GoFundMe account had raised just shy of $50,000 on Sunday morning with a goal of $65,000. 'Just days ago, Allison was on a long-awaited, special trip to Ireland to explore her heritage. What was meant to be a time of joy and exploration ended far too soon in an unimaginable tragedy,' the GoFundMe post stated. 'As we process this devastating loss, many have asked how they can help. This GoFundMe has been created to support Dan, Sean, and Joey — to help with funeral expenses, immediate needs, and to provide some peace of mind as they begin to find their way forward.' 'If you can give, thank you. If you can share, thank you. Most of all, please keep Allison's family in your thoughts and prayers,' the post concluded. According to Irish Star reporting, Eichner 'died after being hit by a car near the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland on Tuesday' and 'was struck by a car near a hotel in Bushmills, Co Antrim. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said they treated her at the scene before rushing her to Causeway Hospital. She later died.' According to the Irish Star reporting, one person was taken into custody and was cooperative following the collision. According to the news site Independent, 'Cathy Stewart, 66, a special needs teacher from Benton, Illinois, lost control of an electric vehicle as she parked it outside a hotel in Bushmills.' Steward appeared in Northern Ireland court last week after being charged with causing death by careless driving, according to the Independent. According to Independent reporting on Friday, 'The vehicle was described as having 'suddenly bolted forward' into furniture, striking Allison Eichner, aged in her 40s and from Connecticut, on Wednesday afternoon.' According to the Independent reporting Eichner's family watched Friday's court proceedings remotely last week. 'Stewart was granted bail on a number of conditions, including residing at her home address in Illinois and a (5,000 pound) cash surety, in recognition that the case is unlikely to be heard until 2026 at the earliest.' According to the Independent, a police constable spoke in court. 'On Wednesday June 11, at approximately a quarter past 12 in the afternoon, a single-vehicle road traffic collision occurred at the front of the Causeway Hotel on the Causeway Road in Bushmills,' she told the court, according to the Independent. 'It involved a grey Ford Transit, a multiple person vehicle, being driven by the defendant. The defendant collided with the pedestrian while she sat on a bench at the front of the property,' the Independent reported. The constable said Eichner was rushed to Causeway Hospital but died from her injuries a short time later. 'CCTV footage of the collision was obtained from the hotel, and it shows a Ford Transit being parked in the disabled parking bay after which the passengers get out and make their way into the hotel entrance,' the constable told the court, according to the Independent. 'The driver's door appears to open slightly as though the driver was exiting the vehicle, however the vehicle moves forward slowly, and then suddenly bolts forward colliding with a light fixture, outdoor dining furniture and the victim who was sitting beside her brother on a bench. 'Her brother jumped out of the way but unfortunately the injured party sustained the full impact of the vehicle. 'The defendant was cautioned at the scene and gave an account consistent with the CCTV. The defendant stated she believed she had turned the car off before attempting to exit and as it rolled forward she tried to apply the foot brake however instead she hit the accelerator causing the collision,' the Independent reported. The constable said Stewart 'cooperated fully and appeared remorseful.' The constable said it was a rental vehicle, and Stewart had never driven an electric or hybrid vehicle before. Stewart was given bail, according to the Independent reporting.
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
Portage man walking to Washington to raise funds in brother's memory
It's a long walk from Portage to Washington, D.C., but for Antonio Gutierrez, it's a step – a lot of steps – in support of the Portage Recovery Association. Gutierrez is raising funds in memory of his brother Erik. Gutierrez was in Greensboro, West Virginia, on Thursday. He plans to reach Washington on Tuesday. 'That will mark two years to the day that I came home and found him dead,' he said. Erik suffered from mental illness and alcoholism, Gutierrez said. 'My parents got divorced when I was about 9 years old,' he said. Their mother was a 'horrible alcoholic' at the time but has been sober almost 40 years now. Gutierrez and his siblings were raised by their father. 'A couple of my siblings are in recovery, and they've all been sober a couple of years,' Gutierrez said. He has abstained. 'I can count on one hand, and I still have a couple of fingers left over, how many times I got drunk in my life.' 'You will not find one Republican in Porter County who will say, yeah, I've seen Antonio drinking at an event,' he said. As of Friday morning, Gutierrez had raised $820 toward his $1,000 goal on his GoFundMe campaign. It's his fifth time doing this kind of walk for charity. The previous times were to support pediatric cancer research. The trek isn't easy. Sleep accounts for just three or four hours a night so he can continue to make progress. 'I walked through Ohio in three days,' he said. 'I'll be getting into a second pair of shoes in another day or two.' 'I'm physically and mentally in the best shape of my life,' he said. 'When I'm at home, I work out at the gym seven days a week.' But even that isn't the same as hiking a long distance. 'You try to do all the training you can do on treadmills, on the local trails back home,' Gutierrez said, and get a false sense of being prepared. 'When you're out here carrying a backpack, 30 pounds on your back,' and you're straining more than just walking at home in flat Indiana. The mountains don't offer support when you're walking uphill, but downhill takes a toll on the joints. Gutierrez has been liberal in his use of tape to add some extra support for his limbs. 'This one here, it's physically demanding on me for some reason,' he said. 'I eat healthy, I take care of myself, and this is the hardest one I've ever done.' When he's done with this hike, he said, 'It will put me right around 4,500 miles total.' Gutierrez is carrying four liters of water, one liter in each bottle, plus a tent and toiletries. He generally sets up the tent and camps along the trail. In the mountains, he's found, there are rocks everywhere. 'When I'm around a hotel, I'll get a hotel,' he said, to sleep on a bed, launder his clothes and take a shower. 'You start smelling pretty quick.' The weather hasn't been kind. 'No more rain. Please, no more rain,' Gutierrez said. 'I have been soaked and drenched four or five times.' 'I've got a poncho, and you still get soaking wet,' he said. Even wet, though, Gutierrez's face still brightens when he meets strangers on the trail. He tells his story, especially his brother's story. 'Men, it's OK to speak up. We don't have to hold it in all the time,' Gutierrez said. 'We tend to hold it in, but we need to speak up more. It's OK to tell a man that you love them without feeling any other way.' If you're near Portage, he said, the Portage Recovery Association can help. Even to those who live far from Portage, he said, 'I still say, call the Portage Recovery Association' to get help finding needed resources to help with addictions. 'Quite a few people hear the story, and they're all in recovery, too,' he said. To anyone who plans a long-distance hike, Gutierrez offers his wisdom. 'Make sure people know what your route is, that somebody is tracking your route,' he said. 'Always have as much water on you as possible,' and make sure you're in great shape. 'Keep it slow and steady,' he said. 'Stretch, stretch, stretch is the key thing.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Suburban woman says husband detained at O'Hare airport despite longtime legal residency
The Brief A suburban woman says her husband, a green card holder since 2003, was detained at O'Hare Airport after returning from Mexico, despite a past felony charge being dismissed 13 years ago. He was held for seven days before being transferred to an ICE facility, where his wife says conditions were unsanitary and inhumane. The family has raised over $6,000 on GoFundMe for legal fees; he remains in custody without bond ahead of a July 9 federal court date in Chicago. CHICAGO - A suburban woman is speaking out after her husband, a green card holder who has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years, was detained at O'Hare International Airport following a trip to visit family in Mexico. She said it's a trip he has taken many times before without issue. What we know Jodi Ladron de Guevara said her husband, Gonzalo, has been a lawful permanent resident since 2003, the same year they were married. Ladron de Guevara, a U.S. citizen, said Gonzalo was stopped by immigration authorities at O'Hare and held based on a felony charge that the family says was dismissed 13 years ago. He is currently being held in an ICE detention facility. She said Gonzalo was initially detained for seven days before being transferred to ICE custody. The family has hired an immigration attorney to help navigate the legal process. Legal fees have already totaled $4,000. Ladron de Guevara described the detention conditions as "deplorable," saying her husband slept on the floor, used unsanitary bathrooms and was surrounded by people experiencing medical crises, including drug withdrawal. "He said that they're just bringing in more and more every day. He was detained at O'Hare on May 24th coming back from Mexico, where he went to scatter his mother's ashes with his brothers. So he left here May 6th, and we have not seen him since then," Jodi said. What's next A GoFundMe created to support the family's legal expenses has raised more than $6,000. Ladron de Guevara said her husband is being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in federal court July 9 in Chicago.
