Mother pleads guilty to daughter’s death; child found in Marengo County

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The woman whose daughter’s body was found in Marengo County in November 2019 has pled guilty to second degree murder on Thursday.

Brianna Shontae Williams, 29, entered the plea at a pre-trial hearing in Duval County circuit court. Her sentencing hearing is set for May 11. Williams faces up to life in prison.

A former petty officer in the U.S. Navy, stationed at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Williams first reported five-year-old daughter Taylor Rose Williams was missing, but she stopped cooperating with detectives after being questioned about inconsistencies in her story. Williams attempted to kill herself after being charged in the case.

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.

They uncovered the remains of a child in a wooded area between Linden and Demopolis.

Taylor had last been seen at day care in April 2019, long before she was reported missing.