LAKE COUNTY, FLA. — A suspect in an abuse case where “the child is fighting for his life” has turned himself in, according to the Tavares Police Department.
The man, who was later identified as Andre W. Walker, went to Advent Health Waterman with the child’s mother, Kimberly Mills on Saturday at 10 p.m.
She was performing CPR on the child in the vehicle, and he ran into the hospital to seek help. Nurses responded immediately.
The 10-year-old boy had several injuries consistent with physical abuse, according to a Tavares police press release. He was “covered with bruises” in various stages of healing, burn marks and other injuries, said Detective Courtney Sulllivan, who wept while reading the report at a Monday afternoon press conference.
Hospital staff conducted life saving measures on the juvenile before he was ultimately transferred to a trauma center. He remains to be in critical condition.
The juvenile was brought in by his mother, Kimberley Mills and a male. They arrived in a vehicle where Kimberley was performing CPR on the juvenile while the male ran inside to notify hospital staff that they needed assistance. Nurses immediately rendered emergency care to the juvenile.
Mills left with Walker, but she returned with another child. She gave Walker’s name to the Department of Children and Families.
Mills was arrested for Aggravated Child Abuse and an arrest warrant was issued for Walker on charges of accessory after the fact, aggravated child abuse. The other juvenile was turned over the Department of Children and Families.
Charges against both may be upgraded depending upon what happens with the child.