A Florida mother, Naikishia Williams, 32, has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the April beating death of her 7-year-old daughter, Nia Williams.
The indictment, handed down by a grand jury on Thursday, cites blunt force trauma to the abdomen as the cause of Nia’s death. Williams was arrested on Friday and remains in Palm Beach County Jail without bond.
The Tragic Death of Nia Williams
The horrific incident occurred on April 28 in Riviera Beach, Florida. According to police, Nia Williams died after her mother allegedly struck her in the abdomen. Following the beating, Nia’s loved ones, including Whytni Walker and Rebecca Finley, who had been helping care for the young girl, spoke out about the abuse and their frustrations with the system.
Finley, who had been in contact with Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) nearly two weeks before Nia’s death, said that Nia had been “very malnourished” and that she had tried to get help.
Despite her concerns, Finley expressed her belief that nothing was done to prevent the abuse, revealing that others in the community were also aware of Williams’ dangerous behavior.
Abuse Was Reported, But Nothing Was Done
“I contacted DCF because she was malnourished and it was very apparent,” Finley told WPTV. “There wasn’t one person who was not aware of this young lady being a dangerous mother.” She further criticized the lack of response from authorities, emphasizing that Nia’s death could have been prevented had the system acted sooner.
The Department of Children and Families did not immediately respond to inquiries from WPTV or Law&Crime. Authorities are expected to release more details about the case in the coming days, with Williams set to appear in court again on July 28.
Nia’s Legacy and the Fight for Justice
Finley and Walker, who were close to Nia, vowed to continue fighting for justice. Walker said, “We can never get her smile back. We can never talk to her again,” expressing the deep pain and grief over the loss of a child who was loved by those around her.
Finley described Nia as a “fashionista” who loved makeup, painting a picture of the vibrant and lively child who was taken too soon.
The Aftermath and Family Care
Following Nia’s tragic death, Williams’ other children have been placed in the care of family members. As the community mourns the loss of this innocent young girl, questions remain about how authorities failed to intervene in time to protect Nia from her mother’s abusive behavior.
Naikishia Williams’ actions have left a lasting impact on those who knew and loved her daughter. While the justice system begins to take its course, the pain of losing Nia Williams is felt deeply by her family and loved ones.
As they seek justice, the case highlights the tragic consequences of systemic failure to protect vulnerable children from abuse.
