TAVARES, Fla. – The 5th Judicial Circuit state attorney’s office on Thursday announced it would seek the death penalty against a Tavares mother and her boyfriend who were charged with murder after her 10-year-old son died from “unimaginable abuse.”
Kimberley Mills, 37, and Andre Walker, 36, were arrested in February after the two took Xavier Williams to the hospital, police said. The boy was covered in bruises, burn marks and other injuries, according to law enforcement.
The two were charged with second-degree murder after Xavier died weeks after being admitted to the hospital.
The couple was originally arrested on multiple charges, including aggravated child abuse, after investigators said there was clear evidence in the case — including a ladder, a 10-pound weight and duct tape — they say was used to torment the boy and his younger brother.
Mills and Walker have since been indicted by a grand jury on five counts each, including first-degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse and principal in aggravated child abuse, State Attorney Bill Gladson said Thursday. Gladson also said the remaining two counts “will need some redactions.”
“Those are the five aggravators that we have evidence that we expect and intend to prove in this case should the jury come back with the conviction in the future of first-degree murder,“ Gladson said.
Police said Mills was performing CPR on the child when they arrived to AdventHealth Waterman while Walker ran inside the hospital for help. Xavier was later taken via helicopter to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where he later died weeks after.
According to police, Mills and Walker had both left the hospital after dropping off Xavier when they learned law enforcement was responding. The mother returned a short while later with another child, Xavier’s younger brother.
The police department said investigators believe the couple left the hospital to go back to the home and do a “hasty cleanup.”
At Thursday’s news conference, Gladson said that prosecutors now seek the death penalty for Mills and Walker because “Florida law allows for capital punishment for the most heinous of crimes and for the most vulnerable of victims, and that’s what we have in this particular case.”
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Taking questions, Gladson said he wasn’t aware whether the Florida Department of Children and Families had ever been called to the family before the February incident.
Tavares police Chief Sarah Coursey said that the decision to pursue the death penalty was not an act of vengeance, “but a solemn response born out of respect for Xavier and his family.”
“The severity of (Mills’ and Walker’s) crimes deserves an equal response, and I trust that justice will prevail,” Coursey said.
Cameil Wilson, Xavier’s aunt, also spoke.
“I think I can speak for all of the members of our family. It hasn’t been a joyous occasion, but we are pleased with the news we’ve had today,” Wilson said.
News 6 asked about Xavier’s brother, but we were told prosecutors did not want to release any details about him.
Donations are being gathered for funeral expenses. Click here to donate to the family’s GoFundMe.
Anyone who would like to provide donations can drop them off at the police department or click here to reach the Tavares Police Charities Fund.
Watch the news conference again in the video player below or by clicking here.
