A Miami-based mother has been apprehended by authorities on charges of allegedly confining her 9-year-old daughter within their home for several years, according to the Miami-Dade Police Department. The 42-year-old woman, Kelli McGriff-Williams, is accused of neglecting her child’s basic needs, including food and medical care, and depriving her of a proper education.
The police report indicates that the child was primarily confined to a bedroom from 2017 to 2023. The young girl was reportedly forced to plead for food, which was not always provided by McGriff-Williams. The child was also denied medical attention, even during periods of severe illness.
The child’s educational needs were also neglected, as she was unable to read or write, according to ABC News. The child’s confinement and neglect were discovered following an investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families into allegations of abuse.
McGriff-Williams was admitted to Jackson South Hospital on August 26 due to an “altered mental state,” according to police. Following her hospitalization, authorities took her into custody after the child confirmed Miami Child Protection Team concluded that the child had suffered from neglect, medical neglect, mental injury, and educational neglect. The child’s father, whose identity has not been disclosed, corroborated the allegations and revealed that he had been attempting to gain legal custody of his daughter for the past five years.
After being discharged from the hospital, McGriff-Williams was arrested and charged with felony child neglect on September 3. She has since pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently being held on a $5,000 bond. Attempts to reach a representative for McGriff-Williams for comment have been unsuccessful.