Judge Denies Motion to Reduce Kamiyah Mobley’s kidnapper’s Prison Sentence; Despite Mobley’s Letter In Support of Motion

Gloria Williams requested the court to have her 18-year prison sentence reduced for kidnapping Kamiyah Mobley in 1998, however, a Duval County Circuit Court judge didn’t rule in her favor.

Williams made a plea in hopes of reassuring the judge that she is working hard to improve while in prison sentence–which has already been four years after she was convicted of stealing an hours-old infant from a Jacksonville maternity ward.

The motion to cut her time in half was not filed on time, Judge Jeb Branham stated and his one-page response issued on Tuesday also said he declined to address the motion’s merits.

“The court commends the defendant for her efforts to rehabilitate herself and sympathizes with Ms. Mobley’s perspective,” Branham wrote. “However, even if the motion was filed on time, the court would not find a basis to undo the original sentencing judge’s decision.”

On July 10, 1998, Mobley was taken out of what was then known as the University Medical Center (now called UF Health Jacksonville) by Williams.

Williams, dressed in medical scrubs, befriended then-15-year-old Shanara Mobley after she wandered the hospital’s halls, and then took her baby hours later.

There was a search for “Baby Kamiyah” but she and Williams vanished for 18 years, Jacksonville News reported.

Williams raised Mobley as her own daughter, whom she named Alexis Manigo, in Walterboro, S.C. 

In 2017, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office broke the news that investigators had found Kamiyah after she became suspicious when she tried to get her Social Security card for a job application.

She was finally told by Williams that she had been taken at birth.

Williams filed her own brief in 2019, saying she felt the 18-year sentence was unreasonable and constituted cruel and unusual punishment. In late July 2019, Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court’s ruling and rejected William’s appeal.

Williams’ latest motion, which was filed on Dec. 6, asked the courts to cut her sentence to nine years. She told the court that was in the process is getting a master’s degree in business administration on top of community service.

“From my arrival to the present, the amount of community service hours I have acquired is a testament to my sincere desire for self-betterment,” she said.

A letter in support from Mobley was attached to Williams’ motion.

“I would like to make it very clear that she is my mother,” Mobley wrote. “She raised me and not only provided for my needs, but she loved me unconditionally.”

Mobley’s letter also went on to say she is an independent, college-educated, and deeply spiritual person, which she said was “because of all my mom gave me.”

She added that she is fully aware of “how my mom became my mom” and that she is grateful to have met her birth parents. She admitted that nothing justifies what happened in the past, but went on to ask for “the court’s grace and mercy, as I need my mother home.”

Thoughts?