LAKE COUNTY, FLA. – The State Attorney’s Office has upgraded charges against a couple charged with torturing a 10-year-old to death to second-degree murder.
The charges were boosted Monday against Andre Walker and Kimberley Mills, Xavier’s mother. They are also charged with aggravated child abuse, one of the original charges, along with neglect and tampering with evidence.
“The tragic loss of Xavier has deeply impacted us all. The discovery of the egregious acts committed against him and his little brother is both heartbreaking and profoundly difficult to comprehend. Their strength and resilience inspire our agency to relentlessly pursue justice on their behalf,” said Detective Courtney Sullivan in a Tavares Police press release.
Xavier’s 8-year-old brother told investigators that his brother was taped to a ladder so 10-pound weights could be dropped on his abdomen. Both suffered burns and bruises, hidden by long-sleeved shirts.
There will be a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Saturday at Wooden Park in Tavares. Participants are urged to wear blue, Xavier’s favorite color.
The Tavares Police Department is collecting donations for the family.