INSIDER
Brianna Williams, sentenced to life in death of 5-year-old daughter, transferred to Department of Corrections
Read full article: Brianna Williams, sentenced to life in death of 5-year-old daughter, transferred to Department of CorrectionsBrianna Williams, who in September was sentenced to life in prison in the 2019 death of her 5-year-old daughter, Taylor, was transferred to the Department of Corrections on Monday, records show.
‘I blame no one but myself’: Statement read in court from mother guilty of killing 5-year-old
Read full article: ‘I blame no one but myself’: Statement read in court from mother guilty of killing 5-year-oldBrianna Williams faces from 20 years to life in prison in the death of her daughter, Taylor. She will learn her fate next week.
Neighbors, authorities testify ahead of sentencing for mother guilty of killing 5-year-old daughter
Read full article: Neighbors, authorities testify ahead of sentencing for mother guilty of killing 5-year-old daughterThe Jacksonville mother who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her 5-year-old daughter was in court Thursday for her sentencing hearing.
Sentencing hearing begins Thursday for woman who killed 5-year-old daughter, Taylor Williams
Read full article: Sentencing hearing begins Thursday for woman who killed 5-year-old daughter, Taylor WilliamsA Jacksonville mother who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her 5-year-old daughter will soon learn her fate.
Sentencing hearings scheduled for Brianna Williams
Read full article: Sentencing hearings scheduled for Brianna WilliamsThe former Navy petty officer first class at Naval Station Jacksonville who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the disappearance and death of her 5-year-old daughter was back in court on Thursday.
Brianna Williams pleads guilty to second-degree murder in death of 5-year-old daughter
Read full article: Brianna Williams pleads guilty to second-degree murder in death of 5-year-old daughterBrianna Williams pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the disappearance and death of her 5-year-old daughter, Taylor Williams, on Thursday.
Brianna Williams pleads guilty to second-degree murder in death of 5-year-old daughter
Read full article: Brianna Williams pleads guilty to second-degree murder in death of 5-year-old daughterBrianna Williams pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the disappearance and death of her 5-year-old daughter, Taylor Williams, on Thursday.
2 years after Brianna Williams’ arrest, no trial date has been set
Read full article: 2 years after Brianna Williams’ arrest, no trial date has been setBrianna Williams appeared briefly in court Wednesday morning on charges of aggravated child abuse, tampering with evidence, child neglect and lying to police.
Documents: FBI tracked Brianna Williams’ movements in Alabama via cellphone
Read full article: Documents: FBI tracked Brianna Williams’ movements in Alabama via cellphoneJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax on Thursday obtained new discovery material in the case of Brianna Williams, the mother accused of abusing her 5-year-old daughter, Taylor. It includes several maps that show how Williams’ trips from Jacksonville to Alabama were traced via her cellphone, including to the wooded area where Taylor’s remains were found. The documents show Williams’ movements were tracked down to the minute. Williams, according to the documents, called her mother on Oct. 31. RELATED: Autopsy inconclusive on 5-year-old Taylor Williams’ cause of deathWilliams has plead not guilty to her charges.
Body cam shows emotional Brianna Williams tell police of missing 5-year-old Taylor
Read full article: Body cam shows emotional Brianna Williams tell police of missing 5-year-old TaylorJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax on Tuesday obtained new body camera footage of Brianna Williams, the mother accused of abusing her 5-year-old daughter, Taylor. RELATED: Autopsy inconclusive on 5-year-old Taylor Williams’ cause of deathThe discovery material contains more than 100 clips of body cam footage from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Williams: “I woke up this morning and she wasn’t there.” Officer: “Have you had any problems with anybody?” Williams: “No.” Officer: “Anything unusual?” Williams: “No.” Officer: “Do you live by yourself?” Williams: “Yes. Williams shows the officer the unlocked door she claims was open and possibly the door her child walked out of. Police put out the first notification of a missing child as Williams begins to cry again.
Autopsy inconclusive on 5-year-old Taylor Williams’ cause of death
Read full article: Autopsy inconclusive on 5-year-old Taylor Williams’ cause of deathCourt records show Williams’ GPS was tracked to the rural area in Alabama where Taylor’s remains were found. The report was expected to reveal whether or not bloodstains found at Williams’ Southside apartment were from Taylor. Williams is not accused of causing the death of the child. Given that the autopsy did not determine the cause or manner of death, she likely never will be. “With child abuse, you have to prove the evidence of the abuse and the autopsy doesn’t speak to that,” Reep said.
Prosecutors release thousands of previously confidential pictures that they're using to build their case against Brianna Williams
Read full article: Prosecutors release thousands of previously confidential pictures that they're using to build their case against Brianna WilliamsWilliams is in jail on more than a million dollars bond. If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.
Photos depict squalor inside home of 5-year-old Taylor Williams
Read full article: Photos depict squalor inside home of 5-year-old Taylor WilliamsPhotos released from State Attorney's Office in investigation of 5-year-old Taylor Williams. The 5-year-old girls remains were found in Alabama, and the cause of her death is undetermined. Williams is charged with aggravated child abuse, tampering with evidence, child neglect and lying to police in connection with Taylors disappearance. (Photos in gallery above)RELATED: Forensic report sheds new light on arrest of Taylor Williams motherPhotos also show the inside of Brianna Williams Southside apartment, as crime scene detectives cased it for clues after she reported her daughter missing. Also, photos show the scene in Alabama, where police discovered Taylors remains on Nov. 11, buried in a shallow grave.
Forensic report sheds new light on arrest of Taylor Williams’ mother
Read full article: Forensic report sheds new light on arrest of Taylor Williams’ motherIt’s important to note that the name Taylor, which is the name of Williams’ daughter, never appears in the reports. According to the report, the Sheriff’s Office found blood on the closet door inside Williams’ Southside Jacksonville apartment. The witness told police, the report said, that she thinks Williams “starved her, locking her in the room. Starved her to death.”According to the report, Williams told a friend that she was having trouble sleeping and issues with depression. Court documents suggest that Brianna Williams tortured, maliciously punished or caged Taylor sometime between the last time the girl was seen alive in April and Nov. 6 -- when Williams reported her missing.
Forensic report released last week could be ‘turning point’ in Brianna Williams case
Read full article: Forensic report released last week could be ‘turning point’ in Brianna Williams caseLast week, the State Attorney’s Office has provided Williams’ defense lawyer with more discovery material in the case, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement forensic report. The report is expected to reveal whether or not bloodstains found at Williams’ Southside apartment were from Taylor. It was the first time Brianna Williams had been seen publicly in almost two months. I think this is a very defining moment in this case,” Peoples-Waters said. Peoples-Waters is not connected with Williams’ case but has worked in criminal law for over 20 years.
Brianna Williams pleads not guilty to abusing 5-year-old Taylor
Read full article: Brianna Williams pleads not guilty to abusing 5-year-old TaylorCourt documents suggest that Brianna Williams tortured, maliciously punished or caged Taylor sometime between the last time the girl was seen alive in April and Nov. 6 -- when Williams reported her missing. Prosecutors have charged Williams with tampering with evidence because investigators believe she dumped Taylor’s remains in Alabama before saying the girl had disappeared. The Department of Children and Families had no contact with Brianna Williams or Taylor and DCF said the family was not involved in any prior abuse complaints before Taylor was reported missing. Investigators later searched that apartment after Williams reported her daughter, Taylor, missing from the Brentwood home she moved to. Taylor reported missingThree days after the move, Williams called police to report her daughter missing, saying she woke up and the back door was open and Taylor was gone.
Prosecutors: 5-year-old Taylor Williams tortured by mother
Read full article: Prosecutors: 5-year-old Taylor Williams tortured by motherJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The mother of 5-year-old Taylor Williams -- who reported her daughter missing last year in what investigators say was a lie from the start -- is now charged with aggravated child abuse and tampering with evidence. Court documents suggest that Brianna Williams tortured, maliciously punished or caged Taylor sometime between the last time the girl was seen alive in April and Nov. 6 -- when Williams reported her missing. Prosecutors have charged Williams with tampering with evidence because investigators believe she dumped Taylor’s remains in Alabama before saying the girl had disappeared. Investigators later searched that apartment after Williams reported her daughter, Taylor, missing from the Brentwood home she moved to. Prosecutors also have Uber and Lyft records, documenting Williams’ activity with the ride-sharing services.
Scent of decay led detectives to ugly truth, remains of Taylor Williams
Read full article: Scent of decay led detectives to ugly truth, remains of Taylor WilliamsInvestigators later searched that apartment after Williams reported her daughter, Taylor, missing from the Brentwood home she moved to. That same scent was noticeable in the trunk of Williams’ Honda Accord, records show. Taylor’s remains were found Nov. 12 in a wooded area of Marengo County, Alabama, where Williams’ GPS had been tracked, according to court records. Williams rushed to ERThe same day Taylor’s remains were found, Williams was hospitalized after what was described as a suicide attempt by overdose at NAS Jacksonville. Williams was arrested when she recovered, and she remains in the Duval County jail on $1.1 million bond.
Lawyers for Taylor Williams’ mom want more time to prepare defense
Read full article: Lawyers for Taylor Williams’ mom want more time to prepare defense5-year-old’s remains found in Alabama after her mother reported her missing in JacksonvilleIf you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.
Lawyers for Taylor Williams’ mom want more time to prepare defense
Read full article: Lawyers for Taylor Williams’ mom want more time to prepare defenseBrianna Williams, who reported Taylor missing from their new Brentwood home in November, is charged with two counts of child neglect and one count of lying to police. Investigators now suspect Taylor was dead before Williams moved there from an apartment on the Southside bus she has not been charged with causing her daughter’s death. Prosecutors sent subpoenas to cellphone companies associated with Williams’ accounts, as well as Google, Apple iCloud and Match.com. Prosecutors also have Uber and Lyft records, documenting Williams’ activity with the ride-sharing services. Prosecutors told Blazs the state is still working to gather more information in the case against Williams.
Prosecutors gather cellphone records, internet history, DNA in Taylor Williams case
Read full article: Prosecutors gather cellphone records, internet history, DNA in Taylor Williams caseBrianna Williams was named a person of interest in the disappearance of her daughter, Taylor Rose Williams, shortly after reporting the girl missing Nov. 6. Following the discovery of the remains, Williams was hospitalized after what was described as a suicide attempt by overdose at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. The nine-page list of evidence includes everything from video interviews to cellphone records tp internet search history, which could piece together what happened to Taylor. Prosecutors sent subpoenas to cellphone companies associated with Williams’ accounts, as well as Google, Apple iCloud and Match.com. Prosecutors also have Uber and Lyft records, documenting Williams’ activity with the ride-sharing services.
Brianna Williams pleads not guilty to charges connected with 5-year-old daughter’s disappearance
Read full article: Brianna Williams pleads not guilty to charges connected with 5-year-old daughter’s disappearancePolice said Brianna Williams, 27, called police saying she put her daughter to bed back in November, then awoke to find her gone the next morning. Police utilized multiple resources searching for the little girl. It was revealed a short time later that the last time anyone could account for the little girl was months earlier, in May. The search for Taylor eventually led investigators to Alabama, where Brianna Williams grew up. Remains found in Alabama have been identified as those of Taylor Rose Williams (WJXT)Brianna Williams attempted suicide by overdose shortly after her daughter’s remains were found.
Brianna Williams sued by apartment complex after child neglect arrest
Read full article: Brianna Williams sued by apartment complex after child neglect arrestBrianna Williams sued by apartment complex after child neglect arrestPublished: January 2, 2020, 10:12 pmThe mother of a missing Jacksonville girl whose remains were found during a search in rural Alabama has been sued by her former apartment complex, according to court documents obtained Thursday by News4Jax.
Woman who helped Brianna Williams move stunned to learn child is dead
Read full article: Woman who helped Brianna Williams move stunned to learn child is deadWoman who helped Brianna Williams move stunned to learn child is deadPublished: November 26, 2019, 12:09 amTiffani Nicole says she helped Brianna Williams move but never saw her daughter.
Woman who helped Brianna Williams move stunned to learn child is dead
Read full article: Woman who helped Brianna Williams move stunned to learn child is deadThe woman who helped Brianna Williams move, Tiffani Nicole, was stunned Monday to learn the child was dead and told News4Jax she is seeing the move in a whole new light as details about the case continue to spill out. Tiffani Nicole met Brianna Williams through a Craigslist request where Williams wanted to hire someone to help her move for $250. Nicole and her fiancé took her up on the offer and went to an apartment on the Southside where Brianna Williams lived with her daughter. “I never saw or heard a child in the house,” Nicole said in a phone interview Monday. JSO said Brianna Williams is not cooperating with investigators.
Remains found in Alabama identified as 5-year-old Taylor Williams
Read full article: Remains found in Alabama identified as 5-year-old Taylor WilliamsJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Human remains found earlier this month in a wooded area of western Alabama were identified as those of 5-year-old Taylor Rose Williams, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Monday. Waters said at a news conference Monday afternoon that DNA analysis confirmed the identity of the remains. The search later expanded to rural Alabama, where investigators focused on a 25-mile radius stretching from Demopolis, where Williams has friends, to her hometown of Linden. After the remains were found, Williams was hospitalized after ingesting an unknown substance. Williams remains in the Duval County jail on $1.1 million bond.
Detectives gather evidence in Alabama where remains found in search for 5-year-old
Read full article: Detectives gather evidence in Alabama where remains found in search for 5-year-oldA JSO crime scene unit van and detectives from several other agencies made their way Thursday morning to the scene in Marengo County. Police say human remains were found here during the search for 5 yr old Taylor Williams. Investigators are seen in a wooded area of Alabama where human remains were found in the search for Taylor Rose Williams. The Sheriff’s Office said Brianna Williams reported her daughter missing on Nov. 6 from a home on Ivy Street in the city’s Brentwood area. Sheriff Williams said Brianna Williams stopped cooperating Nov. 7.
Community invited to attend candlelight vigil to honor Taylor Rose Williams
Read full article: Community invited to attend candlelight vigil to honor Taylor Rose WilliamsThe gathering for Taylor Rose Williams will be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at Losco Park. Sheriff Mike Williams said that while family members have been cooperating, Brianna Williams stopped cooperating Nov. 7. Three sources told News4Jax that authorities pinged Brianna Williams' phone in Alabama, and thats what led them to search there. Brianna Williams was flown Tuesday to UF Health hospital in downtown Jacksonville after a suicide attempt at NAS Jacksonville, police said. Did police suspect Brianna Williams all along?
Warrant: May last time anyone other than Taylor's mother saw girl alive
Read full article: Warrant: May last time anyone other than Taylor's mother saw girl aliveBased on the warrant, May 21 appears to be the last time anyone other than Brianna Williams saw Taylor alive. Lies to detectivesThe warrant also alleges Brianna Williams "provided numerous false statements to law enforcement" about Taylor and her whereabouts. Brianna Williams' mother also denied taking care of Taylor this past year, telling detectives she last saw Taylor in January, the warrant stated. The sheriff on Monday named Brianna Williams a person of interest in Taylor's disappearance. The sheriff also announced that Brianna Williams had been charged with child neglect and giving false information in the investigation into Taylor's disappearance.
Taylor Williams’ great aunt: ‘It’s like my heart has just been ripped out’
Read full article: Taylor Williams’ great aunt: ‘It’s like my heart has just been ripped out’On Tuesday, Taylor's great aunt and great uncle said they were in shock after learning the girl's mother was named a person of interest in the case. Sheila Williams, another great aunt of Taylor's, fought to hold back tears as she talked about the missing girl on Wednesday. "It's like my heart has just been ripped out," Shelia Williams said. Shelia Williams said she hasn't seen Brianna or Taylor Williams in three years. When asked if there was anything she'd like to say to Taylor, Shelia Williams responded:"You're loved and your mama loves you."
Brianna Williams still hospitalized
Read full article: Brianna Williams still hospitalizedBrianna Williams still hospitalizedPublished: November 13, 2019, 7:21 pmThe mother of a 5-year-old girl reported missing from Jacksonville last week "attempted suicide" prior to her arrest Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Taylor Williams' great aunt: 'It's like my heart has just been ripped out'
Read full article: Taylor Williams' great aunt: 'It's like my heart has just been ripped out'On Tuesday, Taylor's great aunt and great uncle said they were in shock after learning the girl's mother was named a person of interest in the case. Sheila Williams, another great aunt of Taylor's, fought to hold back tears as she talked about the missing girl on Wednesday. "It's like my heart has just been ripped out," Shelia Williams said. Shelia Williams said she hasn't seen Brianna or Taylor Williams in three years. When asked if there was anything she'd like to say to Taylor, Shelia Williams responded:"You're loved and your mama loves you."
Police report: Taylor Williams' mother 'attempted suicide' before arrest
Read full article: Police report: Taylor Williams' mother 'attempted suicide' before arrestJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The mother of a 5-year-old girl reported missing from Jacksonville last week "attempted suicide" prior to her arrest Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Brianna Williams was absentee booked and the arrest report stated she had "attempted suicide" prior to that. Hospital officials could not confirm the person on the stretcher was Brianna Williams due to privacy issues. Sheriff Williams said that while family members have been cooperating, Brianna Williams stopped cooperating the day after she called 911 to report her daughter missing from their Brentwood home. He said Brianna Williams was believed to have been driving her black 2017 Honda Accord, which has tinted windows and black rims.
Taylor Williams' mother charged with child neglect, giving false information
Read full article: Taylor Williams' mother charged with child neglect, giving false informationDuval County jail records show Brianna Williams was booked in absentia on two counts of child neglect and giving false information to law enforcement during an investigation, and the three charges carry a total bond of $1.1 million. Hospital officials could not confirm that the person on the stretcher was Brianna Williams, due to privacy issues. IMAGES: Taylor Rose Williams | Alabama scene where remains were foundAt a 5:30 p.m. news conference, Sheriff Williams would not say what the lead was that led them to the discovery. "We will ensure justice is served for Taylor Williams." He said Brianna Williams was believed to have been driving her black 2017 Honda Accord, which has tinted windows and black rims.
Timeline: Key events in the search for missing Jacksonville girl
Read full article: Timeline: Key events in the search for missing Jacksonville girlJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville community and law enforcement has been desperately searching for Taylor Rose Williams since she was first reported missing on the morning of Nov. 6. Nov. 6, Wednesday, 7:22 a.m.Navy petty officer Brianna Williams calls the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office to report her daughter Taylor Rose Williams missing. Nov. 7, Thursday, 4 p.m.Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams holds a press conference to announce that Taylor Rose Williams' mother stopped cooperating with investigators. Williams says Brianna Williams was believed to have been driving her black 2017 Honda Accord, which has tinted windows and black rims. State Attorney Melissa Nelson said during the press conference the remains found in Alabama are believed to be that of Taylor Rose Williams.
Missing girl's mother received 9 awards in 7 years in Navy
Read full article: Missing girl's mother received 9 awards in 7 years in NavyA Navy spokesman said Brianna Williams has returned to work after spending time with police the day she reported Taylor missing. A former valedictorian at her high school in Alabama, Brianna Williams has received nine awards for her naval service and was deployed overseas twice. Her Brentwood neighbors have said they did not see her daughter at the home in the days before Brianna Williams reported Taylor missing at 7:22 a.m. Wednesday. On Thursday, when Sheriff Mike Williams announced Brianna Williams stopped cooperating with detectives when they pointed out inconsistencies in her stories, he added that she is not considered a suspect. GALLERIES: Police swarm neighborhood | Hundreds join search | Taylor Rose WilliamsCopyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Missing girl's mother received 9 awards in 7 years in Navy
Read full article: Missing girl's mother received 9 awards in 7 years in NavyA Navy spokesman said Brianna Williams has returned to work after spending time with police the day she reported Tiffany missing. Biographical data obtained from the Navy shows Brianna Williams has been on active duty since 2012 and was stationed at NAS Pensacola and Naval Station Norfolk before moving to Jacksonville in April 2018. A former valedictorian at her high school in Alabama, Brianna Williams has received nine awards for her naval service and was deployed overseas twice. Her Brentwood neighbors have said they did not see her daughter at the home in the days before Brianna Williams reported Tiffany missing at 7:22 a.m. Wednesday. On Thursday, when Sheriff Mike Williams announced Brianna Williams stopped cooperating with detectives when they pointed out inconsistencies in her stories, he added that she is not considered a suspect.
Sheriff: Taylor Rose Williams' mother has stopped cooperating
Read full article: Sheriff: Taylor Rose Williams' mother has stopped cooperatingJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - On the second day of the search for a missing 5-year-old girl, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams announced that Taylor Rose Williams' mother has stopped cooperating with investigators. Sheriff Williams was asked at the news conference whether he could confirm the last time anyone other than Taylor's mother saw the girl alive. He said "it's been a while" since he saw Taylor, but wouldn't be more specific about a time frame. Sheriff Williams said Thursday that while Brianna Williams has not been cooperating, other family members have been. GALLERIES: Police swarm neighborhood | Hundreds join search | Taylor Rose WilliamsPolice, as well as neighbors, searched into the night Wednesday.
Sheriff: Taylor Rose Williams' mother has stopped cooperating
Read full article: Sheriff: Taylor Rose Williams' mother has stopped cooperatingJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - On the second day of the search for a missing 5-year-old girl, Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams announced that Taylor Rose Williams' mother has stopped cooperating with investigators. Sheriff Williams was asked at the news conference whether he could confirm the last time anyone other than Taylor's mother saw the girl alive. He said "it's been a while" since he saw Taylor, but wouldn't be more specific about a time frame. Sheriff Williams said Thursday that while Brianna Williams has not been cooperating, other family members have been. GALLERIES: Police swarm neighborhood | Hundreds join search | Taylor Rose WilliamsPolice, as well as neighbors, searched into the night Wednesday.
Trolls thought she was the mother of missing Jacksonville girl. They were wrong
Read full article: Trolls thought she was the mother of missing Jacksonville girl. They were wrongBriana Williams was mistaken for the mother of a 5-year-old girl who went missing in Jacksonville on Wednesday. At first Briana Williams, a former Jacksonville resident now living in Ohio, thought the messages were spam. People calling me the b' word, saying that I should hang myself if something happens to this little girl. "People are seeing, Oh, she was just in Jacksonville and all of a sudden when she goes back to Ohio this little girl is missing and her daughter looks like this little girl.'" Briana Williams said that her heart and prayers go out to Taylor Williams, and she hopes they find her safe and well.
Woman says she helped missing girl's mother move, never saw child
Read full article: Woman says she helped missing girl's mother move, never saw childTiffani Nicole says she was hired to help Brianna Williams move. If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.
Woman says she helped missing girl's mother move, never saw child
Read full article: Woman says she helped missing girl's mother move, never saw childAccording to Nicole, Williams' house was messy, and the child's mother was behaving strangely. One of the items Nicole said she helped move was a toddler bed. SHARE: Click for printable FDLE missing child flyer"We never saw a child. Nicole said she and her fiance' unloaded Williams' items into the house, and she said Williams overpaid. Anyone who might have seen Taylor or might know where she is should call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office immediately at 904-630-0500.