x
Breaking News
More () »

Upgraded felony charge filed against Brianna Williams in the case of her dead 5-year-old daughter

The ‘lying to investigators’ charge is now a felony level-offense in the state’s official charging document.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Prosecutors filed a third felony charge against the mother of a 5-year-old Jacksonville girl reported missing in November and later found dead.

According to the charging document obtained by First Coast News Wednesday, Brianna Williams, 27, is now charged with three felonies – two counts of culpable child neglect and one count of lying to law enforcement officers.

The third count was upped to a felony based on the fact that Taylor Williams was under 16.

The charging document, known as an 'Information', came 22 days after Williams was arrested. She has yet to have first court appearance because she allegedly attempted suicide the day of her arrest, and spent several days in the hospital. Her bond was set at just more than $1 million.

Williams reported her daughter missing on Nov. 6. Six days later, human remains were found in the woods in Alabama and were confirmed to belong to Taylor's on Nov. 16.

On Tuesday, Dec. 3 -- the same day prosecutors filed the Information -- Brianna Williams' attorneys filed a motion for an Adversarial Preliminary Hearing.

A defendant is entitled to such a hearing if the State Attorney’s Office hasn’t filed a formal charging document within 21 days of an arrest.

Monday was the 21st day. The Information wasn't filed with the court until Tuesday. 

The hearing motion is not yet available and no hearing has been scheduled. Williams is set to be arraigned on Dec. 18.

RELATED: 8 things to know about the disappearance of 5-year-old Taylor Williams

RELATED: Here's how investigators were able to find 5-year-old Taylor Williams' remains

RELATED: Why is Brianna Williams wearing red, not standard gray or green, in jail booking photo?

RELATED: Jacksonville officer placed flowers, angel wings at shallow grave where Taylor Williams remains were found, Alabama resident says

 

Before You Leave, Check This Out