Mom who duct-taped 10-year-old son to ladder, dropped dumbbells on him gets life in prison for his death

TAVARES, Fla. (TCN) -- A mother has pleaded no contest to all charges related to the February 2025 death of her 10-year-old son and will spend the rest of her life behind bars.

On Feb. 22, 2025, Kimberley Mills, 38, took her son Xavier Williams to the emergency room because he had gone into cardiac arrest, Law & Crime reports. Hospital staff found bruises, burn marks, and possible evidence of sexual abuse on his body. Staff called police and Mills fled with her boyfriend, Andre Walker, 37, as CPR was being performed on Williams. 

The child was put on life support and died March 21, 2025, Law & Crime reports. Walker and Mills were charged with aggravated child abuse and murder, WCJB reported at the time. During the investigation into Walker and Mills, Williams’ younger brother said he had witnessed Walker and Mills duct-tape Williams to a ladder and drop dumbbells on him.

Detective Courtney Sullivan said it was the most difficult case that many in the department had ever worked on, WCJB reported.

Mills changed her not-guilty plea to no contest Jan. 13, but a judge adjudicated her guilty of all counts and sentenced her to life in prison, WESH reports. Her plea deal states she must testify against her co-defendant, Walker. 

Mills’ attorney spoke for her in court and said she chose to accept the plea deal so that her sons would not have to testify against her, WESH reports.

WESH reports State Attorney Bill Gladson said the plea includes “truthful testimony against her co-defendant, strengthens our ability to pursue that goal and ensures the full story is brought before the court. 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.”

The state of Florida has filed a notice to seek the death penalty for Mills, per WESH.

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