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Kimberley Williams and Andre Walker, of Tavares, Florida, face multiple felonies in the "gruesome" death of Xavier Williams, Tavares police said.
Kimberley Williams and Andre Walker dropped Xavier off at Advent Health Waterman Hospital on Feb. 22. The boy showed signs of abuse and was covered "head to toe" in bruises in differing stages of healing, Tavares Police Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan said in a press conference.
Walker left the hospital immediately after arriving, but Kimberley Williams stayed with the boy until she learned doctors were calling police — despite the fact staff were performing CPR on the child, officers said.
Xavier remained in critical condition until Friday, March 21, when police announced he had died from his injuries.
Police searched the couple's home and found a six-foot ladder, a 10-pound weight, and duct tape. Investigators believe the boy was bound to the ladder while the weight was dropped onto him, per WFSB.
Kimberley Williams is charged with aggravated child abuse, two counts of child neglect, one count of tampering with evidence, and two counts of accessory to aggravated child abuse, Tavares Police said.
Andre Walker faces two counts of aggravated child abuse, two counts of accessory to aggravated child abuse, and one count of tampering with evidence, police said.
More charges are expected following Xavier's death.
Xavier previously lived in Connecticut with his biological father and Kimberley Williams, but she moved him to Florida in 2023 after they divorced, Hartford court records show. The father's Facebook page says he lives in Bloomfield.
The boy's aunt created a GoFundMe to help the father pay for the child's medical bills and funeral expenses. The campaign has raised $14,000 as of Monday afternoon, March 24.
Click here for more information on the GoFundMe.
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