Death penalty sought against Tavares mom, boyfriend in boy's abuse, death

Yahoo

03-04-2025

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against a Tavares mother and her boyfriend, both accused in the horrific abuse and 'torture' of her 10-year-old son who died recently from his injuries.
Kimberley Mills, 37, and her boyfriend, Andre Walker, 36, were indicted by a grand jury on first-degree felony murder and aggravated child abuse charges, said Bill Gladson, the state attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which includes Lake County, at a Thursday press conference.
The charges stem from the abuse of Xavier Williams and his younger brother, who recently turned 9, and Xavier's death. Gladson said prosecutors have filed a death penalty notice in the case because of the victim's young age and the heinous nature of the crime.
Xavier died March 21, nearly after a month after he was brought to the hospital in cardiac arrest. Gladson said the indictments charge that the abuse began around Christmas Eve. Police said that is about when the two suspects began dating.
Xavier's father and other family members attended the press conference at the Lake County Courthouse.
His aunt, Cameil Williams, speaking next to a giant photograph of a smiling Xavier, said they were pleased with the state attorney's decision.
'It hasn't been a joyous occasion, but we are pleased with the news we got today,' she said. 'We want to thank the Tavares Police Department and the grand jury for their timeless efforts in ensuring that this journey to justice is a deserved one for Xavier Williams — our beloved Xavier Williams — and his brother,' she added. 'Let's thank God for the news that we got today. Last but never least.'
Xavier died less than four weeks after Mills and Walker brought him to a hospital with Mills performing CPR on him in a car. Court records show medical staff found bruising — including 'severe' bruising on his face — burns and signs of sexual abuse on his body. The child was also bleeding internally. Both suspects were quickly arrested.
Xavier's younger brother later told police Mills and Walker punished him and his brother by hitting them with a copper rod, punching them with boxing gloves and tying them by wrists and ankles to a ladder with duct tape and then dropping a 10-pound weight on their stomachs.
Tavares Police Chief Sarah Coursey thanked her officers for their work on the case and said she was confident Mills and Walker would be held accountable.
'This is not an act of vengeance, but a solemn response born of the respect for Xavier and his family,' she said. 'The severity of their crimes demands an equal response and I trust that justice will prevail.'
Detective Courtney Sullivan said Mills methodically covered up the abuse, with neither neighbors nor school employees at the boys' school suspecting they were hurt. Mills had Xavier wear long-sleeved shirts to hide the marks and bruises on his body, Sullivan said. Court records show injuries included burn marks that were 'long in shape as if something hot was placed on … skin.'
She also 'isolated' the boys from their father — who lives in Connecticut — by taking away their phones and making difficult for him to visit them.
When police searched Mills' home after Xavier was brought to the hospital, they found medical-grade sanitizing wipes along with a mop and bucket — leading them to believe the two were attempting to clean up evidence.
According to a police report, investigators also found trash cans containing children's clothing with duct tape attached, a long-sleeved sweatshirt with tape around the arms and sweatpants with tape at the ankle area — as if it had been used to bind the wearer. A ladder was found in the garage with multiple layers of duct tape fashioned into loops as if it were used as a restraining device.