Florida – In a horrifying case in Florida that prosecutors call one of the most disturbing examples of child abuse they have seen, a 32-year-old mother, identified as N. Williams, is facing the death penalty in connection with the death of her 7-year-old daughter she abandoned after giving birth, whom she repeatedly kicked in the stomach just because she “wasn’t fast enough” while cleaning the food she spilled.
Williams has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the April 28 killing of her daughter. This week, prosecutors formally filed notice of their intent to seek capital punishment, citing multiple statutory aggravators: the victim was under 12, Williams held custodial authority over her, and the killing was carried out in a “heinous, atrocious, or cruel” manner that was “cold, calculated, and premeditated.” Court documents detail a devastating history of abuse and neglect. From birth, the girl’s life was marked by instability. Williams abandoned her at the hospital after giving birth, leading to six months in foster care before being placed in the care of R. Finley and her daughter W. Walker, who had custody of Williams’ other three children.
While in their care, the girl thrived. But when custody shifted back to Williams, medical records and police reports show repeated, severe injuries: in 2021, a broken femur and a head laceration left untreated so long that skin grew over the surgical staples; later that year, a broken arm; in 2022, marks from boiling water. Despite this history, Williams regained full custody in 2023 after completing a parenting program. Those who knew the family told investigators she was addicted to drugs and often vented her anger on her children, with the 7-year-old girl receiving “the brunt” of it.
The school where the victim attended reported she had missed about 50 days during the 2024–2025 school year, often arriving in dirty clothes. On April 25, just three days before her death, she appeared at school visibly ill, complaining of severe stomach pain, vomiting, and chills. She was sent to the nurse’s office, but could not be treated because Williams had never signed the required consent form and did not answer phone calls. At home that day, police say the girl spilled food. Williams forced her to lie on the ground, then stomped on her stomach several times. When the girl struggled to clean the mess, Williams kicked her repeatedly in the stomach because she “wasn’t moving fast enough”, then forced her to complete more chores, including cleaning the toilet and shower.
Over the next few days, the girl’s condition worsened. Her vomit turned black, she could not eat, and her pain became severe. On April 28, around 4 p.m., her sister found her barely breathing with eyes open. Williams allegedly waited four hours before calling 911, telling paramedics the 7-year-old girl might have overdosed on medicine. Doctors found no medicine in her system but discovered catastrophic injuries: a lacerated liver, detached large intestines, massive internal bleeding, and renal failure. Nearly half her blood volume was in her stomach. She was pronounced dead at 11:15 p.m. Her death was ruled a homicide.
Finley and Walker, who had raised alarms about Williams for years, told reporters they had contacted the Department of Children and Families two weeks before the girl’s death, warning she was “very malnourished.” They believe the system failed the young girl. Williams is due in court again on August 13, facing the possibility of death if convicted.
