Body believed missing girl found in Marengo County
Law enforcement officials announced Tuesday that a multi-agency investigative team uncovered the remains of a child in a wooded area between Linden and Demopolis.
While not confirmed, it is believed the body belongs to five-year-old Taylor Rose Williams who was reported missing from her Florida home last week.
Her mother, 27-year-old Brianna Williams, is alleged to have attempted suicide Tuesday afternoon. She was absentee booked at a Jacksonville, Fla., hospital on charges of child neglect and giving false information to the police during an investigation, said Melissa Nelson, Florida State Attorney with the 4th Judicial Circuit.
Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said the suspect remains in serious condition from an alleged overdose.
The massive search operation for Taylor involved local and state agencies from Alabama and Florida. Included were the Demopolis Police and Fire departments, Linden Police Department, Marengo County Sheriff’s Office, ALEA, SBI, 17th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force and DA’s office, Alabama Attorney General’s office, FBI agents from Mobile, Birmingham and Jacksonville, Fla., and members of multiple units with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Fire and Rescue and Florida state attorney.
The JSO is awaiting confirmation of the identity of the child’s body as forensics test are completed. Since a body has been recovered, efforts now will be to secure and process evidence at the scene.
Taylor’s mother reported her missing from their Jacksonville home last Thursday. Her mother told officials she found her daughter missing when she woke up Wednesday morning. She later refused to cooperate with investigators. Search for the child led law enforcement to Marengo County over the weekend.
The sheriff said law enforcement was able to trace Taylor’s whereabouts with “a lot of comprehensive data” from federal partners.
Sheriff Williams would not give details about the investigation or of the conditions that led to a charge of child neglect.
“It’s important to remember we’re nowhere near done” with the investigation, he told reporters. Detailed forensic analysis must be completed.
He said any prosecution typically is held in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred.
Brianna Williams is a native of Linden and a 2010 graduate of Linden High School. She serves in the U.S. Navy and is stationed in Jacksonville.