Florida court sets plea date for murder defendant
Andre Walker, charged in the torture and death of Xavier Williams, faces a Nov. 17 negotiation after his co-defendant agreed to testify against him.
By Tomas Gonzalez ·
Andre Dwayne Walker is set to enter plea negotiations on Nov. 17 in the murder of 10-year-old Xavier Williams. The 38-year-old Florida man faces first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges connected to the boy’s death in Tavares, Florida.
Xavier lived in Windsor, Connecticut, before moving to Florida with his mother, Kimberley Mills, and his 9-year-old brother. Prosecutors have filed notice that they will seek the death penalty for Walker. He currently maintains a not guilty plea to all counts.
Mills, 38, previously reached a plea deal that spared her the death penalty. She agreed to serve life in prison and to provide truthful testimony against Walker. The Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office noted that the victim’s father and extended family support this resolution.
Police reported that the couple abused the boys from late 2024 until Feb. 20, 2025. A search of their home revealed a six-foot ladder and duct tape used to restrain Xavier. Officers stated that weights were dropped onto his exposed stomach while his hands were bound above his head. Detectives also found a thick insulated copper wire used to beat both children.
The boy was brought to a hospital in February 2025 with extensive bruises and burn marks. He died approximately four weeks later. Bill Gladson, the state attorney, stated that the initial second-degree murder charges kept the pair in custody while investigators gathered evidence for a grand jury indictment on higher charges.
Keniel Williams, the boys' father from Windsor, said he was divorced from Mills and did not know about the abuse. He explained that the children were too terrified to tell him when he called them. Tavares Police Chief Sarah Coursey described the case as one of the most heartbreaking crimes faced by the community.
Coursey added that Mills’ cooperation will help ensure Walker is held fully accountable. The plea agreement mandates that Mills spends the rest of her life incarcerated while providing testimony that brings the full story before the court.
