Lexington mother charged with the murder of her two children, police say

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — A Lexington mother has been charged with the murder of her two children.

The Lexington Police Department says 43-year-old Nikki James is facing two counts of murder for the deaths of 5-year-old Skyler Williams and 13-year-old Deon Williams. She's the victims' biological mother, police say. The deaths are being investigated as a double homicide.

Police say officers were called to the Parkway Plaza Apartments on Rogers Road at around 7:20 p.m. Monday in response to an injured person. When officers got to the scene, they located three injured subjects. All three were taken to a local hospital.

Officers say two children died from their injuries at the University of Kentucky Medical Center Emergency Department. In the Fayette County Coroner's report, it says the children died of "multiple stab and incised wounds."

Additional charges are pending and will be released at a later time.

"It's horrible," said Shantae Bode, who lives in the building across the parking lot. "For anybody to go through that, have to see that, it’s definitely something that will never leave my mind."

"We are heartbroken over the tragic deaths of Skyler and Deon Williams," said Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Demetrus Liggins. "Skyler and Deon brought joy and light to their teachers and classmates and we ask our community to uplift all those touched by this unimaginable loss."

Teams of grief counselors from across the district were at Mary Todd Elementary and Winburn Middle schools on Tuesday to support students and staff. Additional counselors from the district will continue to be available for as long as students need the extra support.

"I cannot say enough good things about how our team stepped up today to wrap our students and staff in love and care," Liggins said. "Skyler and Deon were beloved members of the Mary Todd and Winburn families and our entire FCPS community is grieving."

Classmates and teachers at Mary Todd Elementary remembered Skyler as a bright and independent little girl who was excited about going to kindergarten next year. She loved to draw and play with her friends and delighted in sharing stories about her day. Skyler was eager to learn and was always one of the first students to arrive at school and greet her teachers with hugs.

At Winburn Middle, friends and teachers said Deon embodied the warrior power and spirit of the school. A kind young man who was a friend to all and a helper to his teachers, Deon always tried his best and his positive attitude was contagious. He enjoyed writing and drawing and was involved in many school activities, including Saturday comic workshops, where he came out of his shell and created characters and stories where good always triumphed over evil.

The investigation into their deaths is still ongoing.