Schofield soldier
allegedly beat
his daughter
for wetting herself

An Army soldier under investigation for causing the death of his 5-year-old daughter allegedly beat her because she had wet herself, according to the girl's stepmother.

And the girl's stepmother delayed calling for medical help because she did not want police to take away her 4-month-old baby, court documents say.

What led to the death of Talia Emoni Williams on Saturday and the abuse she allegedly suffered for several months were detailed in court documents after the girl's stepmother, Delilah Williams, was charged in a federal complaint yesterday with first-degree murder. The complaint alleges Williams caused the child's death "as part of a pattern and practice of assault and torture."

Williams appeared for the first time in U.S. District Court yesterday represented by a federal public defender, but made no statement. A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Government prosecutors declined comment but are expected to ask that Williams be held without bail.

U.S. Army officials would not release any information on Williams' husband, Naeem Williams.

They would only say that a suspect is in military custody and under investigation after military authorities responded to a "domestic Incident" at the Wheeler Army Airfield residence on Saturday, according to a statement released by Maj. Stacy Bathrick, spokeswoman for the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army, Hawaii. The incident involved a child who was later pronounced dead at a nearby civilian hospital.

When questioned Sunday by investigators with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, Williams said she knew her husband had struck his daughter, but wanted a relative to pick up her 4-month-old baby before they called for an ambulance. She said she knew that they were "in trouble," and did not want her baby taken away.

Williams said her husband had struck his daughter with a belt that morning because she had wet herself. When he learned she had wet herself again that afternoon, he struck her again, and she fell from the blow, hitting her head on the floor, court documents said.

Williams said her husband brought Talia to the shower and poured water over her. She did not regain consciousness, so he carried her to her room and placed her on the floor. Williams told her husband to leave his daughter alone, hoping the girl would wake up, but 15 minutes later they heard her wheezing and noticed discharge coming from her mouth.

From her previous work in an emergency room, Delilah Williams "knew that this was a sign that Talia was dead," according to investigators.

Williams told her husband that the girl was dead after checking for a pulse and not detecting anything. Only after a cousin picked up Williams' baby did the couple call 911 about 5:45 p.m.

Emergency Medical Services personnel who responded to 195 Ohaiala Court, No. 104, on a report of a girl in cardiac arrest were able to resuscitate her briefly before she lost consciousness again. They suspected a head injury because she was also vomiting. They also discovered she had bruises on her arms, chest, knees and thighs and a small cut to her back. She was rushed to Wahiawa General Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead upon arrival.

Delilah Williams told investigators she had problems in the past with her stepdaughter, a special-education student, and admitted to hitting her before on the back of the legs with a belt.

But she said she stopped hitting the girl in late March or April because Talia began to "retaliate" by grabbing the belt and digging her nails into her stepmother's arms. Since then she let her husband deal with his daughter.

If the girl wet herself, Williams said she would let the girl remain wet until her father came home from work.

Williams told investigators that blood splatters throughout their home were caused when her husband "whipped" Talia on the back with his belt, "busting open" the scars.

Investigators noted that the girl's room had no mattress, blankets or furniture because they had been removed by her parents "as a form of punishment," court documents said.

During questioning by investigators, Naeem Williams confessed to beating his daughter "almost every day" beginning March 15 to "discipline" her.

He also told investigators his daughter was left by herself in the house during the week without any supervision.

Federal prosecutors would not comment on whether the death penalty will be sought in Delilah Williams' case. Prosecutors must first obtain approval from the U.S. attorney general.