Tavares Police: Kimberley Mills, Andre Walker 'methodical' in abuse of 2 boys | FOX 35 Orlando
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Tavares Police: Kimberley Mills, Andre Walker 'methodical' in abuse of 2 boys

By and FOX 35 Digital Staff
Updated  February 28, 2025 5:44pm EST
Lake County
FOX 35 Orlando

Kimberley Mills, Andre Walker: Tavares Police Update

Tavares police provide an update in a child abuse investigation involved 2 boys -- aged 10 and 9 -- and their mom and their mom's boyfriend. The 10-year-old boy remains in critical condition and is "fighting for his life." The 9-year-old boy suffered "similar" abuse, police said, but is OK. Kimberley Mills, the boys' mom, and her boyfriend, Andre Walker, have been arrested and charged with several counts of child abuse.

The Brief

    • Police say a second child, 9, was "tortured" and "abused" by the Florida mother and boyfriend who sent his 10-year-old brother to the hospital last week.
    • The 10-year-old currently remains in critical condition.
    • Both the mother and boyfriend now face additional child abuse charges.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. - Content warning: This story discusses allegations of physical abuse against a child, according to information from the Tavares Police Department. The details in this story are disturbing. 

A Florida mother and her boyfriend now face additional charges in an alleged child abuse case. Police say a second child, 9, was also "tortured" and "abused" by them. Police discovered the case last week after Mills brought the boy's 10-year-old brother to the hospital with alleged bruises and burn marks all over his body.

The 10-year-old currently remains in critical condition, and the mother and boyfriend now face additional charges, according to recent reports. Both the mother and the boyfriend have pleaded not guilty to the child abuse charges.

The latest on the investigation

What we know:

On Friday, the Tavares Police Department revealed that Kimberley Mills, the mother of the two boys, and her boyfriend, Andre Walker, would face additional charges related to the alleged abuse of both boys – not just the 10-year-old boy found with bruises and burn marks all over his body.

Kimberley Mills, left, and Andre Walker, right, are facing child abuse charges. (Credit: Lake County Sheriff's Office/Tavares Police Department)

The new charges are as follows:

Kimberley Mills

  • Two counts of Aggravated Child Abuse
  • Two counts of Child Neglect
  • One count of Tampering with Evidence
  • Two counts of Accessory to Aggravated Child Abuse

Andre Walker

  • Two counts of Aggravated Child Abuse
  • Two counts of Accessory to Aggravated Child Abuse
  • One count of Tampering with Evidence.

"These charges mean that both Kimberley Mills and Andre Walker participated in torturing and abusing these two children," police said in a news release. "We are working closely with the State Attorney’s Office to ensure that these two boys get the justice that they deserve. … We are hoping that the boy that is hospitalized pulls through. However, in the event he does not make it, we are prepared to add enhanced charges."

The Tavares Police Department hosted a press conference Friday afternoon to share the latest updates on the case. Police said both Mills and Walker are still refusing to cooperate in the investigation.

Officials say both boys appear to have suffered from similar types of abuse. Although it is undetermined when the abuse started exactly, police believe it may have begun around two months ago, when Mills and Walker are believed to have gotten involved.

Police said Mills was "methodical" and made sure the children would not tell anyone what was going on. The kids went to school wearing long sleeves to cover the abuse, officials said. 

Officers believe Mills and Walker left the hospital after dropping the 10-year-old boy off to do a "hasty" cleanup of the house. However, police said they "did a really bad job" and were able to find evidence.

Police have also discovered that Mills is a registered nurse, although it is unclear where she works or if she is still working. 

What is the 10-year-old boy's current condition?

What they're saying:

The Tavares Police Department previously shared an update on the boy's condition on its social media pages on Wednesday. 

In the post, officers said the boy remained in critical condition.

"Please keep him, his biological father and little brother in your thoughts and prayers," police said in the post. "Detectives have been all hands on deck to ensure that the case is seamless and thorough. We want justice for this little, innocent boy."

"It is clear to our agency that this child underwent gruesome abuse," said a detective with the Tavares Police Department, who became visibly emotional while providing an update on the case at a press conference on Monday. "He is covered head to toe. Excuse me. He is covered head to toe in various sized bruises that are in various stages of healing. Additionally, he is covered in burn marks. … This 10-year-old little boy is fighting for his life. He is in critical condition, and we are unsure which direction his healing will go."

Florida boy, 10, was 'tortured,' 'fighting for his life' | FULL

The Tavares Police Department shared an update on its investigation into a 10-year-old boy suspected of being abused. His mom and another male have been arrested. "This child was tortured," the detective said, noting that the boy was covered head-to-toe in bruises and burn marks.

What allegedly happened?

The backstory:

Around 10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, Mills and Walker brought the 10-year-old boy to AdventHealth Waterman, where doctors immediately noticed he had numerous bruises and burn marks in various stages of healing.

Police said Walker immediately left. Mills left the hospital briefly once she learned law enforcement had been contacted, police said. She later came back with the boy's 9-year-old brother.

Police said a search warrant was executed at the home that painted a picture of the alleged abuse the boy went through.

"To put it plainly, this child was tortured," they said.

Police: Florida boy 'tortured,' 'fighting for his life'

A 10-year-old boy brought to a Florida hospital on Saturday night was covered head-to-toe in bruises and burn marks and is "fighting for his life," according to the Tavares Police Department.

Police said there were no recent calls to or from DCF about the home or the children. There was a recent 911 call where the mom reportedly asked questions about the boy. Deputies did not respond, as the purpose of the call was able to be handled over the phone, police said.

On Monday, police said Walker, who was wanted under suspicion of accessory after the fact to aggravated child abuse, turned himself into the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Mills, the boy's mother, has been booked into jail under suspicion of aggravated child abuse. She has invoked her Fifth Amendment right and declined to talk to detectives, police said.

Police said the boy's biological father lives out of state and was on his way to Florida. 

What we don't know:

Police have not yet released specifics about the alleged abuse against the 9-year-old boy. They have also not released evidence of the alleged abuse found inside the home.

What you can do:

The Tavares Police Department is collecting gift cards, as well as clothes, to benefit the two children and their biological father. 

Those who wish to make a donation can drop off items at the police department building located at 911 Gateway Drive, Tavares, or do so online at this link. 

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The Source: This story was written based on information gathered in previous reporting, as well as updates provided by the Tavares Police Department on social media, in press releases and in news conferences. 

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