RIVIERA BEACH, FL – A Florida mother accused of killing her 7-year-old daughter is now facing the possibility of the death penalty, following new filings from prosecutors who allege the murder was especially brutal.
Naikishia Williams, 32, was indicted last month on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in connection with the April 28 death of her daughter, Nia Williams. Prosecutors on Monday filed a notice indicating their plan to seek capital punishment if Williams is convicted, citing several aggravating factors in the case.
According to court documents, the state contends that the crime was “heinous, atrocious, or cruel,” and that Williams acted in a “cold, calculated, and premeditated manner.” The documents further point to Nia’s age — under 12 — and allege that Williams abused her authority as a parent in committing the crime.
An eight-page probable cause affidavit details a troubled history for Nia, marked by previous stays in foster care and repeated injuries. Williams reportedly left the infant Nia at the hospital after birth, leading to her placement with foster caregivers Rebecca Finley and her daughter, Whytni Walker, both of whom had also cared for Williams’ other children.
The caregivers reported that while Nia occasionally lived with them, she would be returned to Williams periodically. During those times, Nia reportedly suffered numerous injuries, including a broken femur, burns, and untreated wounds, according to the affidavit.
Records show Nia was hospitalized in 2021 for a broken leg and a laceration to the head. In a separate incident that same year, she suffered a broken arm. The girl was also treated in 2022 for burns allegedly caused by boiling water. Despite these incidents, Williams regained custody in 2023 after completing a parenting program.
Teachers reported ongoing concerns about Nia’s well-being. The child missed nearly 50 days of school during the 2024-2025 academic year and was often seen wearing soiled clothes. Still, school staff described her as a bright and gentle student.
The affidavit states school officials struggled to reach Williams to express their concerns, and notes that Nia appeared severely ill three days before her death, complaining of stomach pain, vomiting, and chills. She was brought to the nurse’s office, but could not be treated due to an unsigned parental consent form and unanswered phone calls to Williams.
Detectives interviewed Nia’s sibling, who recounted that Nia was sick all weekend after leaving school, describing her vomit as dark and explaining she could not eat. The affidavit alleges that, in the days preceding her death, Nia was punished for spilling cereal; Williams is accused of forcing her to lie on the ground and stomping on her stomach, later compelling her to clean around the house while in pain.
On the day of her death, Nia’s sister found her unresponsive in their home, but authorities allege Williams waited several hours before calling for emergency help. When paramedics arrived, Williams reportedly told them her daughter might have overdosed on medication, leading to the administration of Narcan. Medical staff later determined there was no medication in Nia’s system, but that she had sustained catastrophic internal injuries, including a lacerated liver and severe internal bleeding.
Nia was pronounced dead at 11:15 p.m. on April 28. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide as a result of blunt force trauma.
Authorities say relatives and caregivers had raised repeated concerns about Williams’ treatment of her children to state agencies, including the Department of Children and Families, but that interventions had not prevented Nia’s death.
Williams is currently being held without bond. She is scheduled to return to court on August 13 as the case proceeds.