An Amber Alert was issued Thursday after two foster children were reported missing in Lake County. According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, 5-year-old Tillie Claire Williamsand 1-year-old Natalia Williams were last seen at 11 p.m. at a home on Companero Drive in Sorrento. Officials say they have “solid evidence” indicating that the biological mother, Dixie Williams, who lives in Hendry County, South Florida, may have taken the kids. Police are looking for a silver midsized Nissan that got into the neighborhood Wednesday evening and they say it is a vehicle of interest.The community is gated, and there are three gates that lead into the neighborhood. Deputies say there were no signs of forced entry to the home. Investigators are going through security cameras to determine how anybody could have gotten in. Tillie Williams is 3 feet, 5 inches, approximately 45 pounds, has long, straight brown hair, and brown eyes. Tillie was last seen wearing gray or navy-blue pajamas with multicolored hearts.Natalia Williams is 2 feet, 5 inches tall, approximately 30 pounds, with short brown curly hair. She was last seen wearing a pink pajama dress and pink pants with hearts.Deputies say the Florida Department of Children and Families allowed visitation between the girls and the biological parents. “I was approached about 10 a.m. by some sheriffs that asked me if I had my kids. And I told them I didn’t have them. You have them,” Cody Williams, the girls’ father, told WESH 2. That’s how he found out his daughters, Tillie and Natalia, were missing. According to the sheriff’s office, DCF had taken custody from the parents about a year and a half ago. “We’ve had such a great connection with our children that every time we visit my daughter is always asking me when can I come home. And it’s like lying to your kid over and over again,” Williams said. Williams said they had a Zoom visit with their daughters just Wednesday. “After the Zoom meeting, she called me. She told me she loved me,” Williams said of Dixie. He said he tried calling her several times Wednesday. “Her phone was ringing. But no answer,” Williams said. Williams shared how hard it’s been being apart from Tillie and Natalia. But says it’s been particularly hard for his wife. “She’s a stay-at-home mom and I have to work all the time,” he said. “That’s her job and without her job, she feels like she’s nothing.”The sheriff’s office said Wednesday they were investigating all possible alternatives. But said they had “solid reason” to believe Dixie Williams was in the area of this Sorrento neighborhood Wednesday night. “It’s my belief that possibly she does have the children,” Williams said. “They believe it so. As far as me being worried about that at that point with her having the kids, not so much. I’m worried about what’s going to happen to her if she gets caught, or you know what they’re going to do to her while she has the kids.”As far as how Williams was hoping this would end:”What I want is my wife to be safe and I need my kids to be safe. I know she will die for her kids as I would,” he said. The girls have been in the foster home for a little more than a year. Four other children live in the same house.”At this point, we are still looking for them, trying to find out where she has taken them. That’s why we put the children’s pictures out on social media and in the press release today seeking the public’s help,” Lt. John Herrell with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said. “So we are hoping that they will turn up soon so that we can ensure a safe return home.” WESH reached out to DCF for comment.They said, “The Department conducts investigations concerning all allegations of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Information regarding investigations is confidential per section 39.202, Florida Statutes.”Anyone with information about the missing girls or the vehicle of interest is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.Top headlines: Amber Alert issued for foster children, ages 5 and 1, missing from Central Florida Police: 2 facing charges after children found in ‘deplorable’ conditions at Bunnell home Orange County deputies capture man suspected of stabbing woman 16 times
An Amber Alert was issued Thursday after two foster children were reported missing in Lake County.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, 5-year-old Tillie Claire Williams
and 1-year-old Natalia Williams were last seen at 11 p.m. at a home on Companero Drive in Sorrento.
Officials say they have “solid evidence” indicating that the biological mother, Dixie Williams, who lives in Hendry County, South Florida, may have taken the kids.
Police are looking for a silver midsized Nissan that got into the neighborhood Wednesday evening and they say it is a vehicle of interest.
The community is gated, and there are three gates that lead into the neighborhood. Deputies say there were no signs of forced entry to the home. Investigators are going through security cameras to determine how anybody could have gotten in.
Tillie Williams is 3 feet, 5 inches, approximately 45 pounds, has long, straight brown hair, and brown eyes. Tillie was last seen wearing gray or navy-blue pajamas with multicolored hearts.
Natalia Williams is 2 feet, 5 inches tall, approximately 30 pounds, with short brown curly hair. She was last seen wearing a pink pajama dress and pink pants with hearts.
Deputies say the Florida Department of Children and Families allowed visitation between the girls and the biological parents.
“I was approached about 10 a.m. by some sheriffs that asked me if I had my kids. And I told them I didn’t have them. You have them,” Cody Williams, the girls’ father, told WESH 2.
That’s how he found out his daughters, Tillie and Natalia, were missing.
According to the sheriff’s office, DCF had taken custody from the parents about a year and a half ago.
“We’ve had such a great connection with our children that every time we visit my daughter is always asking me when can I come home. And it’s like lying to your kid over and over again,” Williams said.
Williams said they had a Zoom visit with their daughters just Wednesday.
“After the Zoom meeting, she called me. She told me she loved me,” Williams said of Dixie.
He said he tried calling her several times Wednesday.
“Her phone was ringing. But no answer,” Williams said.
Williams shared how hard it’s been being apart from Tillie and Natalia. But says it’s been particularly hard for his wife.
“She’s a stay-at-home mom and I have to work all the time,” he said. “That’s her job and without her job, she feels like she’s nothing.”
The sheriff’s office said Wednesday they were investigating all possible alternatives.
But said they had “solid reason” to believe Dixie Williams was in the area of this Sorrento neighborhood Wednesday night.
“It’s my belief that possibly she does have the children,” Williams said. “They believe it so. As far as me being worried about that at that point with her having the kids, not so much. I’m worried about what’s going to happen to her if she gets caught, or you know what they’re going to do to her while she has the kids.”
As far as how Williams was hoping this would end:
“What I want is my wife to be safe and I need my kids to be safe. I know she will die for her kids as I would,” he said.
The girls have been in the foster home for a little more than a year. Four other children live in the same house.
“At this point, we are still looking for them, trying to find out where she has taken them. That’s why we put the children’s pictures out on social media and in the press release today seeking the public’s help,” Lt. John Herrell with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said. “So we are hoping that they will turn up soon so that we can ensure a safe return home.”
WESH reached out to DCF for comment.
They said, “The Department conducts investigations concerning all allegations of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Information regarding investigations is confidential per section 39.202, Florida Statutes.”
Anyone with information about the missing girls or the vehicle of interest is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
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