LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A Lake County mother will spend the rest of her life behind bars for the brutal abuse and death of her 10-year-old son, prosecutors announced.
Kimberley Leonie Mills, 38, appeared before Judge Rada where she was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Xavier Williams. The sentence comes as part of a plea agreement that requires Mills to return to court later this year—this time as a witness against her co-defendant, 37-year-old Andre Dwayne Walker.
The case stems from a horrific discovery on February 22, 2025. According to investigators, Xavier was rushed to AdventHealth Waterman in cardiac arrest, his body covered in bruises and burn marks. He was airlifted to an Orlando Children’s Hospital, where he remained on life support for nearly a month. He died from his injuries on March 21, 2025.
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Authorities determined the boy’s death was the result of “systematic abuse” inflicted by Mills and Walker, her paramour, inside Mills’ home in Tavares.
Both suspects were indicted in April 2025 on charges including First-Degree Murder and Aggravated Child Abuse. They have been held without bond since their arrests.
State Attorney Bill Gladson noted that the victim’s father and extended family supported the plea deal, which guarantees Mills’ incarceration while strengthening the case against Walker.
“Our focus has always been justice for this child and accountability for those responsible,” Gladson said in a statement. “Mills’ plea, which includes truthful testimony against her co-defendant… ensures the full story is brought before the court.”
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Gladson added, “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.”
Tavares Police Chief Sarah Coursey described Xavier’s death as one of the most heartbreaking crimes the community has ever seen.
“While no outcome can truly bring justice for such a loss, the plea agreement ensures that Kimberley Mills will spend the rest of her life in prison and that her cooperation will help hold Andre Walker fully accountable for his heinous acts,” Coursey said.
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