RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — A Riviera Beach mother was arrested Friday following the death of her 7-year-old daughter earlier this year.
The investigation began on April 28 when officers responded to a report of an unresponsive child at a home in the 1500 block of West 15th Street.
WATCH BELOW: Mother faces murder charge in death of 7-year-old daughter
Medical personnel arrived at the home and took the child to St. Mary's Medical Center, where the girl, Nia Williams, was pronounced dead.
After an investigation, police said the child's death was determined to be a homicide.
The little girl's mother, Naikishia L. Williams, 31, was arrested early Friday morning and taken to the Palm Beach County jail.
Williams was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
She appeared in a Palm Beach County courtroom on Friday morning, where a judge granted state prosecutors' request to hold her in jail without bond.
The indictment said Nia suffered blunt force trauma to the abdomen.
WATCH BELOW: Mother appears in court to face murder charge
"SHE CAUSED THE DEATH," CARETAKER TELLS WPTV
Loved ones of Nia, including her godmother, Whytni Walker, and caretaker, Rebecca Finley, expressed their grief and frustration during an interview with WPTV reporter Kayla McDermott.
"We can never get her smile back. We can never talk to her again," Walker said, remembering the vibrant young girl.
Finley described Nia as "brilliant" and a "fashionista" who loved makeup.
Both Walker and Finley were in court when Williams went before a judge Friday to face the charges.
"She caused the death," Finley told WPTV. "That's why she's arrested, and it was definitely abuse."
The indictment came two months after Nia's death, highlighting concerns raised by families who had been caring for Williams' children informally for years.
"She should have been in jail a long time ago," Finley added.
Walker mentioned that she contacted the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in early April regarding Williams' children, who she described as "very malnourished." This call occurred just 12 days before Nia's death.
"There wasn't one person who was not aware of this young lady being a dangerous mother," Finley stated.
Now, through their tears, Finley and Walker are advocating for justice for Nia.
"I'm guaranteeing she's saying, 'Auntie, tell them everything. Don't forget anything,'" Finley remarked, expressing her commitment to being Nia's voice.
Finley also noted that Williams' other children are currently safe and being taken care of.
Efforts by WPTV on Friday to obtain a comment from DCF regarding this case have not yet received a response. Police are expected to share more details on the case on Monday.
