Background: Xavier Williams (Tavares Police Department). Insets: Kimberley Mills, and Andre Walker (Tavares Police Department).
In a tragic case that has shaken the community, a Florida mother has been sentenced to life imprisonment following her involvement in the death of her 10-year-old son. The heart-wrenching incident occurred when Kimberley Mills, aged 38, abandoned her son at a hospital, leaving medical staff to desperately perform CPR on his severely injured body.
Mills entered a plea of no contest to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, among others, related to the death of her son, Xavier Williams. This plea was part of an agreement that requires her to testify against her boyfriend, Andre Walker, who prosecutors assert was the main perpetrator of the abuse. Walker, aged 37, is expected to face trial later this year, with Mills’ testimony being a crucial element of the prosecution’s case.
The emotional toll of Xavier’s death was poignantly expressed by his father, Keniel Williams. “I have sleepless nights,” he confessed, highlighting the enduring pain and turmoil caused by the loss. “I have pictures of the family that I just can’t delete out of my phone. There are pictures of her,” he added, referring to Mills, “and to see that Xavier was taken away from us, it’s hard. It’s very hard to cope with. It is very hard to even function at work. It’s just hard to live, sometimes without end.”
In explaining Mills’ decision to plead guilty, her attorney cited the desire to avoid further traumatizing her surviving son, who would otherwise be compelled to testify against her in court. This decision underscores the complex emotional dynamics involved in such tragic circumstances.
Bill Gladson, the State Attorney for Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit, emphasized that the plea agreement serves as a mechanism to ensure that justice is served for Xavier, holding those responsible fully accountable for their actions. The case continues to unfold as the community awaits Walker’s upcoming trial, hoping for closure and justice for young Xavier.
Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney, said the plea deal is about holding those responsible for Xavier’s death accountable.
“Mills’ plea, which includes truthful testimony against her co-defendant, strengthens our ability to pursue that goal and ensures the full story is brought before the court,” he said. “In doing so, Mills will spend the rest of her life incarcerated. I have no doubt she will think of Xavier every waking day and regret the pain and suffering she made him endure while she repeatedly endures her own.”
As Law&Crime previously reported, Mills and Walker rushed her son to a hospital in Tavares, an Orlando suburb, on Feb. 22, 2025, after he went into cardiac arrest. Hospital staff noticed he had bruises all over his body along with several burn marks and evidence of possible sexual abuse.
“Both Kimberley and the male left the hospital after learning that law enforcement was responding to the hospital, all while the juvenile was undergoing CPR in the Emergency Department,” cops wrote in a press release.
The mother returned to the hospital after a “short period of time” with another child but Walker never came back, police said. Mills allegedly refused to give cops information about Walker’s whereabouts or even identify him. Eventually, she gave up Walker’s name to the Department of Children and Families and authorities issued an arrest warrant, according to cops.
Detectives searched Mills’ home and collected “pertinent pieces of evidence” and confirmed Walker’s identity. He was later taken into custody. Both have been in jail since their arrests.
Xavier stayed on life support for about a month before he died on March 21, 2025.
Walker has a court hearing set for Jan. 20.
