A Florida grand jury has indicted the guardian and aunt of a murdered 13-year-old girl weeks after the teen’s body was found in a field.
Sisters Marian Williams, 57, and Valerie Young, 52, are accused of killing Delia Young, who was reported missing from her Gainesville home on May 15 and found deceased off Interstate 75 in Alachua County on June 2. WCJB reported that Williams, who is Delia Young’s guardian, was arrested after she told police she witnessed her sister beat the teen before her death.
Valerie Young reported her niece missing and claimed she vanished from home in the middle of the night. Weeks later, Williams allegedly told police that Delia Young was at their home when she saw Valeria Young beat the girl with an electrical cord.
Williams said she got her sister to stop beating the teen. Later that evening, Williams claimed she asked her if she needed to go to the hospital as she was walking in a manner that would suggest she was injured. It is not immediately known what the girl responded.
The following morning, Williams reportedly found Delia Young dead in her room. WGFL reported that she called Valerie Young to the house after making the discovery.
Police believe the pair stashed Delia Young’s body in a pink tote bag and left it at a Lacrosse home that Williams also owns. The two sisters are the only people who have access to the residence, according to reports.
At some point before May 18, Williams allegedly returned to the Lacrosse home and sat in the bedroom with the deceased child’s body. Williams reportedly went to the home on May 18 and could not find the girl’s body but discovered the tote bag used to transport her body.
Williams allegedly admitted to burning the tote bag to hide evidence of Delia Young’s death.
Williams and Valerie Young were arrested in late May, days before Delia Young’s body was found. Authorities have not publicly disclosed how they located the remains.
Williams and Valerie Young are charged with first-degree murder, two counts of neglect of a child with great bodily harm, tampering with physical evidence, resisting arrest without violence, and making false reports to law enforcement authorities regarding a capital felony. They remain jailed without bond.
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[Featured image: Delia Young/Alachua County Sheriff’s Office]
