Louisiana

TAVARES, Fla.—The mom accused of kidnapping her two daughters from a Sorrento foster home in January is back in Lake County to face her charges.

Dixie Krista Williams, 42, is accused of kidnapping her two daughters, Tilli and Natalia, in the early morning hours of Jan. 25 from their foster home in Sorrento, triggering an Amber Alert and large law enforcement response. The girls were missing for more than a day, until Williams was captured in Louisiana on Jan. 26.

Through its investigation, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office discovered information that Williams may be traveling in a silver Nissan Rogue on Interstate 20 in Louisiana with the girls who were 5 years old and 18 months old at the time of the kidnapping. Detectives relayed that information to Louisiana State Police (LSP,) and troopers spotted the Rogue and initiated a traffic stop around 12:15 p.m. local time. After a brief pursuit by LSP and Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies, Williams was taken into custody, and Tilli and Natalia were found safe. The girls were turned over to Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services; it is unknown what their current status is.

Williams was arrested on a warrant for two counts of kidnapping and numerous Louisiana charges, including aggravated flight from an officer, operating a vehicle with a suspended license, resisting an officer, two counts of no child passenger restraint system and no seat belt use. Lincoln Parish Clerk of Court records were not available at press time, the status of Williams’ Louisiana criminal charges is unknown.

Williams spent more than eight months locked up in Ruston, Louisiana before being extradited back to Lake County on Oct. 6. In addition to her kidnapping charges, Williams must answer for failing to appear in court for five traffic-related charges stemming from an arrest by Eustis Police Department in December 2022. In that case, Williams was found driving without a license, allegedly resisted arrest and was ticketed for several driving offenses. On that traffic stop, Williams told the arresting officer she was “traveling” and “did not need a license,” a phrase commonly used by self-proclaimed sovereign citizens.

Williams is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond, and according to Lake County Clerk of Court online records, she waived her arraignment scheduled for Nov. 4 and pleaded not guilty. She is represented by Assistant Public Defender Mona Payne and Assistant State Attorney Gabriel Lozano is prosecuting the case.

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