Article Summary
Two missing sisters from Lake County were found safe in Louisiana, in the custody of their biological mother, Dixie Williams, who was arrested on kidnapping charges. The children were located after a tipster rented a vehicle for Williams, which had GPS tracking capabilities. Besides the kidnapping charges, Williams is also accused of resisting an officer, aggravated flight from an officer, operating a vehicle with a suspended license, two counts of no child passenger restraint system and no seatbelt use. The children’s father reported he had not spoken to his wife since before the girls went missing and is unsure of how she managed to kidnap them from their foster home in a gated community.
Missing Lake County Sisters Found Safe in Louisiana
The Lake County sisters missing were found safe on Friday afternoon. Louisiana authorities discovered them in the custody of their mother, Dixie Williams, who is now facing kidnapping charges.
An anonymous tip led to their location. The tipster claimed to have rented a vehicle for Dixie, which was equipped with GPS tracking. The vehicle was traced to Interstate 20 in northeast Louisiana.
High-Speed Chase Ends Safely
Attempts to pull Dixie over resulted in a high-speed chase. It ended when she pulled into a rest area, placed one child in her lap, and drove off again. Other law enforcement managed to stop the vehicle, ensuring both children were safe.
Louisiana State Police confirmed Williams had an active warrant for two counts of kidnapping. She was also charged with resisting an officer, aggravated flight, operating a vehicle with a suspended license, and violations relating to child passenger restraint and seatbelt use.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office expressed immense relief, likening it to a “500-pound weight lifted off the detectives’ shoulders.”
Parents React to News
The father of the girls, Cody Williams, hadn’t spoken to his wife since before the girls went missing. Describing his wife’s actions, Cody said, “I think she just went rogue. My wife went rogue,”.
According to Cody, their girls were taken from a gated community in Sorrento, an area equipped with cameras and other security measures.
The Disappearance of the Sisters
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that 5-year-old Tillie Claire Williams and 1-year-old Natalia Williams were last seen at their Sorrento home on Wednesday night. Their foster mother reported them missing the following morning. Investigators promptly determined that they were likely with their biological mother, Dixie Williams, a resident of South Florida’s Hendry County.
Officials revealed that Dixie was disgruntled over her visitation rights being restricted to virtual visits only. The Department of Children and Families had seized custody from the parents about 18 months prior.
The girls’ foster mother had previously allowed Dixie to borrow her car. Upon its return, the neighborhood pass was missing, leading investigators to believe this is how Dixie accessed the gated community.
Father Expresses Concern
Cody Williams learned about his daughters’ disappearance when the sheriff’s office called him. He shared the hardship of being separated from his children and the strain on his wife, a stay-at-home mom.
Despite everything, Cody didn’t believe Dixie would harm the girls. His concern lay with what would happen to her upon capture. He expressed his wish for the safety of his wife and children, stating, “I know she will die for her kids as I would.”
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