RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — A Palm Beach County mother, Naikishia L. Williams, has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the horrific death of her 7-year-old daughter, Nia Williams, on April 28, 2025. The case has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for accountability in child welfare systems.

Naikishia Williams, 32, was arrested on June 26, 2025, following a two-month investigation by the Riviera Beach Police Department. Authorities responded to a report of an unresponsive child at a home on the 1500 block of West 15th Street on the evening of April 28. Nia Williams was found unresponsive and was rushed to St. Mary’s Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy conducted by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Nia’s death was a homicide caused by severe blunt force trauma to the abdomen, resulting in a lacerated liver, detached large intestines, and massive internal bleeding, with half of her blood supply found in her stomach.

According to court records and police reports, Nia suffered years of abuse and neglect at the hands of her mother. Investigators allege that in the days leading up to her death, Nia experienced severe stomach pain and vomiting after being “stomped on” by Williams, reportedly in a fit of rage over a spilled cereal mess. A witness described the act as Williams stomping on Nia’s stomach “like you stomp on an ant.” Interviews with Nia’s siblings revealed a pattern of violent punishments using objects such as metal pipes, belts, heels, and a mop. Medical records also documented prior trauma, including a fractured femur and head laceration in 2021, a broken arm later that year, and burn marks from boiling water in 2022.

The indictment, handed down by a Palm Beach County grand jury on June 25, 2025, classifies the murder as a capital felony, alleging that the act was premeditated. Williams entered a not guilty plea on June 27 and is being held without bond at the Palm Beach County Jail. She has been assigned a public defender and is scheduled to appear in court next on July 28, 2025. If convicted, Williams faces the possibility of life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

The case has raised significant concerns about the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), as former caregivers and family members reported warning the agency about Naikishia Williams’ alleged abusive behavior for years. Rebecca Finley, who cared for Nia and her siblings intermittently starting when Nia was five, and Whytni Walker, Nia’s godmother, expressed frustration that their concerns were not acted upon. A DCF report dated April 2, 2025, noted visible injuries on Nia and her siblings, and a caseworker reportedly warned that “the mother is going to end up taking one of her children’s lives.” Despite these red flags, Nia was returned to her mother’s custody in June 2023 after Williams completed a parenting course, following multiple instances of losing and regaining custody.

Finley described Nia as a “brilliant” and “lovely” child who loved makeup, cooking, and cleaning, calling her a “fashionista” and a “baby of joy.” Both Finley and Walker have vowed to seek justice for Nia, expressing grief over her loss and frustration with the system’s failure to protect her. “We can never get her smile back,” Walker said. Legal experts, including Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, have noted that while criminal charges against DCF workers are unlikely due to legal immunity, civil lawsuits against the agency are probable, given its role in returning Nia to her mother’s care.

The Florida DCF has stated that it investigates all child deaths related to abuse or neglect in coordination with law enforcement but cited confidentiality laws (section 39.202, Florida Statutes) when declining to provide specific details about the case. The Palm Beach County School District, where Nia attended Mary McLeod Elementary School, also declined to comment, citing confidentiality. School officials reported that Nia was frequently absent and showed visible distress in the days before her death, including an incident where she vomited in class and Williams failed to respond to the school’s attempts to contact her.

As the case moves forward, it continues to draw attention from child welfare advocates and the community, who are calling for systemic reforms to prevent similar tragedies. The investigation remains ongoing, with additional details expected to be released as the legal process unfolds.