TAVARES, Fla.—A mom and her boyfriend are each facing more charges as one boy they are accused of abusing continues to fight for his life.
Kimberley Mills, 37, has been in the Lake County Jail since early Sunday morning after bringing her 10-year-old son to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares Saturday night while the child was in cardiac arrest, and covered in burns and bruises. Her boyfriend, Andre Walker, 36, accompanied Mills to the hospital but they soon disappeared when they found out hospital staff called law enforcement. Mills returned to the hospital with the boy’s brother, and Walker’s whereabouts were unknown until he turned himself in at LCJ late Monday morning.
Mills was originally arrested on a charge of aggravated child abuse while Walker was arrested for accessory after the fact – aggravated child abuse. Police said earlier this week they did not believe the younger boy was victimized by his mom and her boyfriend, but as detectives conducted interviews and discovered evidence over the past six days, their investigation revealed both boys are victims of abuse. More charges were added to the pair Friday morning. Mills is now charged with an additional count of aggravated child abuse, two counts of child neglect, two counts of accessory to aggravated child abuse and one count of tampering with evidence.
Walker is facing two counts of aggravated child abuse, two counts of accessory to aggravated child abuse and one count of tampering with evidence. Police believe he’s been Mills’ boyfriend for just a few months, TPD Public Information Officer Courtney Sullivan told Inside Lake. Sullivan, a detective, has been working on the case since Saturday, in addition to her PIO duties.
“Both Kimberley Mills and Andre Walker participated in torturing and abusing these two children. We are working closely with the State Attorney’s Office to ensure that these two boys get the justice that they deserve,” Sullivan said Friday.
The community has questioned how the children’s abuse went unnoticed, and Sullivan answered some of those questions Friday.
“Kimberley Mills was methodical in what her children wore and what they said to others to ensure that absolutely no one would learn of what she was doing to her children behind closed doors. That being said, all fingers should be pointed in one direction – at Kimberley Mills and Andre Walker who participated together in hurting these children.”
An arrest affidavit with more details obtained by Inside Lake earlier this week revealed the boy was in cardiac arrest when his mother brought him to the hospital, and he sustained injuries consistent with sexual abuse. Inside Lake asked Sullivan why the pair isn’t facing sexual battery charges.
“Our victim is still in critical condition and has not been able to disclose any details regarding sexual abuse. Also, because of his condition, certain physical examinations have not been performed,” Sullivan said. “We cannot definitively say it occurred at this time, but more charges could be added later.”
The younger boy has not disclosed any sexual abuse, she said.
The 10-year-old boy remains in critical condition and his younger brother is with their father. TPD has set up a fundraiser for the family through its Tavares Police Charity, to donate online, click here. TPD is also accepting gift cards on behalf on the family, you can drop them off at the Tavares Public Safety Building, 911 Gateway Drive, Tavares, FL 32778.
