A woman who admitted she posed as a nurse, stole a newborn baby from a Florida hospital, and then raised the baby as her own daughter took the stand during her own sentencing hearing Friday morning. The child, Alexis Manigo, didn’t know the truth until she was 18 years old, and first met her biological family in 2017. Her name at birth was Kamiyah Mobley.
Williams said her attorneys told her not to have contact with the Mobley family from whom she took the child — until now.
Here is the majority of her statement to the parents of the child she stole:
Ms. Mobley, Mr. Aiken, I have wanted to apologize to you where you were in South Carolina. I pray every day — every day — for the good Lord to renew your hearts, and renew your minds, and to heal your hearts, and to give you the peace and joy that comes from knowing His word. I can’t explain where I was back then, 20 years ago. I know I wronged you. I am so sorry. So many days, so many days, so many days, so many days, I want to pick that child up, get in this car, and go. I just couldn’t. I never, I left Jacksonville, I didn’t look back. I didn’t know what you went through. I can only imagine what you went through. I can only imagine. I never in my life — never in my life — meant to hurt you; meant to hurt either one of you. God knows my heart. I did hurt you, and for that, I am so sorry. I know I can’t give you back the 18 years. If I could, I would. If I could give you a new heart, Ms. Mobley, I would; if I could give you a new heart, Mr. Aiken, I would. It’s not in my power. I know you hate me right now. I know I’ve done something wrong. I hope one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me for what I’ve done to y’all.
Williams said she had put something together which depicted the girl’s life. She said she hoped the birth parents would accept it. She continued:
Looking at you, hearing about you, I hurt you in a major way, both of you. Your life hasn’t been the same, and for that, I am sorry. Now, as I said before, I put together this thing for you. I would like to share it with you if you would accept it.
She then called Alexis by her birth name for the first time, and sobbed:
As for Kamiyah, I never meant to hurt you; I never meant to hurt you. I just love that child so; I never meant to hurt you, to cause you any harm, any pain, any of that; and I’m sorry; and I hope you can find it in my heart to forgive me. I tried to love you the best way I could, the only way I could. I tried to nurture you, but nothing can take away from what I took from you. Nothing can replace that. I will always love you; always. The joy you brought me . . . I thank God the world can’t take it away from me . . . but you’re not mine. Your mother and father [are] sitting right here.
Williams also apologized to her own family for the embarrassment she caused them.
[Image via screen grab from the Law&Crime Network, Courtesy WTLV-TV.]
[Editor’s note: This piece has been updated to include video.]
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