Miami

9-year-old girl in Florida begged to eat while she was held captive for years by mother, police say

Kelli McGriff-Williams, 42, went before a judge for the first time Thursday following her arrest last week on child neglect charges

Miami-Dade’s Jail
NBC 6

A nine-year-old child was allegedly held captive by her mother from 2017 to 2023, and now that woman is facing charges in Miami-Dade.

Kelli McGriff-Williams, 42, went before a judge for the first time Thursday following her arrest last week on child neglect charges.

Court records show McGriff-Williams did not let her child leave their home in Miami, so she spent most of her time inside a bedroom. The little girl would have to beg to eat and the mother would not always feed her, authorities said.

According to the arrest paperwork, McGriff-Williams did not enroll her daughter into school and the victim was unable to read or write.

On August 26, Miami-Dade Police officers responded to the defendant's home in reference to a Department of Children and Families investigation. McGriff-Williams was Baker-Acted and arrested on September 1.

Records show the victimโ€™s father has been attempting to gain custody of the child since 2017. His attorney did not want to comment on the arrest.

McGriff-Williams was granted a $5,000 bond in the case.

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