TAVARES, Fla. (WFLA) — A 10-year-old child who was at the hands of “gruesome abuse” from his mother and her boyfriend has died, according to the Tavares Police Department.
Last month, the child’s mother, Kimberly Mills, and her boyfriend, Andre Walker, brought Mills’ 10-year-old son to Advent Health Waterman Hospital after performing CPR on the way to the hospital.
Hospital staff noticed the child was covered in bruises, burn marks and other injuries consistent with abuse. They began treating the boy, who remained in critical condition since Feb. 23, according to the police department.
“It is clear to our agency that this child underwent gruesome abuse. He is covered head to toe in various-sized bruises that are in various stages of healing,” Tavares Police Detective Courtney Sullivan said back in February.
When Mills and Walker were told officers would be responding, they left the hospital. At the same time, the boy was actively receiving CPR in the emergency department.
The mother later returned to Advent Health with another child but without Walker and refused to tell officials how her child got bruised. That day, Mills was arrested for aggravated child abuse and Walker turned himself in.
“Detectives have been all hands on deck to ensure that the case is seamless and thorough,” the police department said in an update on Feb. 26. “We want justice for this little, innocent boy.”
On Feb. 28, the Tavares Police Department announced additional charges for Mills including two counts of aggravated child abuse, two counts of child neglect, two counts of accessory to aggravated child abuse and tampering with evidence.
Walker also received charges of two counts of aggravated child abuse, two counts of accessory to aggravated child abuse and tampering with evidence. Officials determined Mills and Walker had a hand in torturing and abusing the 10-year-old and his 9-year-old brother, who was also in their custody.
On Mar. 6, police released photos of objects Mills and Walker used to abuse the children. A search of their home revealed objects used to restrain the 10-year-old, including a six-foot ladder, a 10-pound weight, and duct tape. Officials said the weights were dropped on the child’s exposed stomach.
Officials said the evidence revealed the child’s hands were bound above his head, leaving him defenseless. A thick insulated copper wire in his bedroom was used to inflict harm on the two boys.
According to NBC affiliate WESH, a detective with the Tavares Police Department said the 10-year-old arrived at the hospital with internal bleeding in his stomach and raccoon eyes, with possible head trauma.
In an interview with the younger brother, WESH said the younger boy told detectives that his brother was being punished in the living room before he was taken to the garage to get further punished by Walker. This punishment included dropping the weights and tying him up with duct tape.
In a bond hearing on March 19, WESH reported that a judge denied bond for Walker. The 10-year-old leaves behind his biological father and little brother.
In an update on March 21, the police department released a statement saying in part, “This innocent child’s life was marked by unspeakable suffering, and his loss has deeply shaken our community and everyone involved in this case.”
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to enhance the charges for the child’s mother and her boyfriend.