Former Navy officer pleads guilty to killing 5-year-old daughter who was reportedly caged, tortured

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (TCD) -- A former officer in the Navy pleaded guilty this week to charges relating to the death of her 5-year-old daughter, who was found buried in Alabama.

The State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida announced Thursday, Match 3, that Brianna Williams entered the plea for second-degree murder. She could face life in prison in the Florida State Prison system, but the minimum is 20 years.

Williams reported her daughter Taylor missing on Nov. 6, 2019, to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. She reportedly said the back door of her home was open and her daughter was nowhere to be found. Throughout the investigation, however, Williams "became uncooperative with law enforcement and lied about several key timeline facts about Taylor."

According to the statement, Williams traveled to rural Alabama a few days before reporting her daughter missing and then went back to Jacksonville. On Nov. 12, 2019, the Demopolis Police Department said they located human remains near where Williams had traveled.

WJXT-TV reports Assistant State Attorney Lauren Anderson said in court, "Some of the recovered remains showed evidence of potential malnourishment, trauma, and disease."

While searching Williams' home, investigators reportedly found bloodstains in several locations around the apartment, as well as feces, maggots, and dirty clothes in Williams' car. WJXT also reports there was a strong scent of decay and cleaning supplies in the car and apartment. She was last seen alive in April.

Investigators reportedly found rope, plastic, gloves, a knife, cardboard, a shower curtain, and other evidence where Taylor was found, WJXT says.

According to the Florida Times-Union, prosecutors said Williams "did willfully torture, maliciously punish, or willfully cage" her child.

MORE: