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Missing 5-year-old girl’s mother charged with child neglect

Brianna Williams absentee booked after human remains found in search for child

Taylor and Brianna Williams

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The mother of a 5-year-old girl reported missing from Jacksonville last week has been arrested on charges of child neglect and giving false information to investigators in the search for her daughter, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced Tuesday.

Brianna Williams was absentee booked, as the sheriff confirmed that she was flown earlier in the day from Naval Air Station Jacksonville to UF Health hospital, reports News 6 partner WJXT News4Jax.

No one else has been charged in the disappearance of 5-year-old Taylor Williams, officials said.

According to the sheriff, Brianna Williams was taken to the hospital in downtown Jacksonville to be treated after overdosing on an unknown substance at NAS Jacksonville. She was reportedly in serious condition.

A News4Jax crew at UF Health on Tuesday afternoon captured video of a helicopter landing and then someone being led into the hospital on a stretcher, surrounded by security. Hospital officials could not confirm the person on the stretcher was Brianna Williams due to privacy issues.

[Timeline: Key events in the search for missing Jacksonville girl]

News4Jax began to learn of Brianna Williams’ hospitalization soon after investigators announced Tuesday afternoon that human remains had been found during the search for her daughter, Taylor Rose Williams, in a wooded area in western Alabama. Sheriff Williams and Nelson said the remains are believed those of Taylor.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will await positive identification of the remains found on County Road 44 off Highway 28 in Marengo County, Alabama, until forensics tests are completed, according to the Demopolis Police Department.


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