Left: Naikishia Williams (Palm Beach County Jail). Right: Nia Williams (Bell & Clark Funeral Home).
A Florida mother has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the April beating death of her 7-year-old daughter.
The grand jury issued an indictment on Thursday against Naikishia Williams, who celebrated her 32nd birthday on Sunday. She faces charges related to the death of her daughter, Nia Williams, which occurred on April 28 in Riviera Beach. The indictment reports Nia’s cause of death as blunt force trauma to the abdomen. Williams was arrested on Friday and is currently held without bond at the Palm Beach County Jail.
Whytni Walker and Rebecca Finley, who helped care for Nia, spoke with local NBC affiliate WPTV following Williams’ first appearance hearing.
Finley said family had long tried to sound the alarm on Williams.
“She should have been in jail a long time ago,” she said.
Williams “caused the death” and it was “definitely abuse,” Finley said.
Finley informed the media that she reached out to Florida’s Department of Children and Families almost two weeks prior to Nia’s death, citing concerns that the girl appeared “very malnourished.” She voiced her frustration over the lack of action taken to protect Nia from harm.
“There wasn’t one person who was not aware of this young lady being a dangerous mother,” said Finley.
DCF did not get back to WPTV on Friday and did not immediately respond to a message on Sunday from Law&Crime.
Walker and Finley said they won’t stop until they get justice for Nia.
“We can never get her smile back,” Walker said. “We can never talk to her again.”
Finley described Nia as a “fashionista” who loved to put on makeup.
According to WPTV, additional details regarding the case are anticipated to be disclosed on Monday. Williams is scheduled for her next court appearance on July 28 and has been appointed a public defender.
Walker and Finley said Williams’ other children are now being cared for by family members.
