A change in plea is on the horizon for Kimberley Mills, a Florida mother charged in the gruesome death of her 10-year-old son. Originally pleading not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, Mills is now expected to amend her plea during a hearing set for today, reports ClickOrlando. The alteration could be to guilty or no contest, though specific terms of the plea have not been disclosed.
Arrested last February along with her boyfriend, Andre Walker, both faced the death penalty if convicted. The charges stem from a tragic incident where her son, Xavier Williams, was allegedly tortured using a ladder, a 10-pound weight, and duct tape. These devices, used cruelly, were reported to have restrained Xavier with his hands above his head while the weight was intentionally dropped on his exposed torso, per investigators. Having left the hospital to conduct a "hasty cleanup" at their home, they were later arrested on multiple charges.
WFTV indicates that this change by Mills might lead to a plea deal where she receives life imprisonment instead of the death penalty. This commitment to a prison sentence may prevent her younger son from enduring the ordeal of testifying. The severity of this action perturbed the state to such an extent that the death penalty was initially pursued for what was called one of the most heinous acts against a vulnerable victim. But Mills held onto her not-guilty plea for nearly a year until recently, when a filing by her attorney suggested a shift.
While this potential plea by Mills suggests a closing chapter in her involvement, the legal drama is far from over; her boyfriend, Walker, has not been offered a deal mirroring Mills' and still faces the death penalty if convicted.
