A Florida mother has been charged with first-degree murder in the April beating death of her 7-year-old daughter.
On Thursday, the grand jury indicted Naikishia Williams, who turns 32 on Sunday. She is accused of killing her daughter, Nia Williams, on April 28 in Riviera Beach.
According to the indictment, Nia died as a result of blunt force trauma to the abdomen. Williams was arrested on Friday and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail, where she remains without bond.
Whytni Walker and Rebecca Finley, who assisted with Nia’s care, spoke with local NBC affiliate WPTV following Williams’ first appearance hearing.
Finley stated that the family had long attempted to raise the alarm about Williams.
“She should have been in jail a long time ago,” she joked.
Williams “caused the death” and it was “definitely abuse,” according to Finley.
Finley told the outlet that she contacted Florida’s Department of Children and Families nearly two weeks before Nia died because the child was “very malnourished.” She was frustrated that nothing was done to stop Williams from hurting Nia.
“There wasn’t one person who was not aware of this young lady being a dangerous mother,” Finley told me.
DCF did not respond to WPTV on Friday or to a message from Law&Crime on Sunday.
Walker and Finley stated that they will not stop until Nia receives justice.
“We can never get her smile back,” Walker said. “We can never talk to her again.”
Finley described Nia as a “fashionista” who enjoyed putting on makeup.
Police told WPTV that more information about the case would be released on Monday. Williams is next scheduled to appear in court on July 28. She was assigned a public defender.
Walker and Finley reported that Williams’ other children are now being cared for by family members.
