Delia Young Remains Found, Two Charged

ALACHUA ‒ On Wednesday, June 2, Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies discovered 13-year-old Delia Young’s body during a large-scale search operation centered around County Roads 236 and 239 in Northwest Alachua County. Her body was found off of Country 239 nearly three weeks after she disappeared. Her identity was confirmed by an autopsy on Friday June 4.

Delia's short life had already been hard, she had health issues, lost her mother and was in foster care, living with her aunt and step mom Marian Williams, 57, along with Williams’ sister, Valerie Young, 52.

Delia was reported missing May 16 by Young, who told deputies that Delia disappeared from her home at 3223 N.W. 142^nd Avenue during the night and that she had a history of running away.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASCO) began an investigation but found no leads, so ACSO tweeted about Delia’s absence May 19, urging community members to call the ACSO communications center with any information about her whereabouts. As time passed and the search grew more desperate, ASCO interviewed the two women and noticed inconsistencies in their stories.

Then on May 26 the case broke wide open after Williams willingly traveled to the sheriff’s office and confessed her involvement in Delia Young’s disappearance and implicated Valerie Young in her death and the concealment of her body.

Based on her confession, ASCO immediately arrested Williams. According to the arrest report, Williams told detectives she was home on May 16, and saw Valerie Young, her sister, beating Delia with an electrical cord. Williams said Valerie Young stopped after Williams asked her to, but later that evening, Delia was limping and had large welts on her legs.

Williams said she asked Delia if she wanted to go to the hospital, but she refused. Williams said she last saw Delia alive on the floor of her bedroom using a computer. On May 17 around 7 a.m., Williams said she discovered Delia dead on the floor of her bedroom. She said she called Valerie Young, who was not at the home, in a panic and the two discussed where they would hide Delia’s body.

Detectives say Williams and her sister put the 13-year-old's body in a tote bag, and drove her to a home in Lacrosse that Young owned. According to the arrest report, Williams and her sister left the bag in a bedroom in the house. That was on May 17, according to the arrest report.

Detectives say Williams told them she returned to the home on May 18 and found the bag outside the home and Delia's body gone. According to the arrest report, Williams said she burned the tote bag because it linked her and her sister to Delia's death. At the time of her arrest, Williams claimed to have no knowledge of the whereabouts of Delia Young’s remains.

Based on their confessions and other information, the ASCO narrowed the search to County Road 236 area using ATVs and K-9 units. The location is around 15 miles from Valerie Young’s home where the child was last seen. Finally, on June 2, Deli's remains were found.

Williams has been charged with negligent manslaughter of a child, neglect of a child with great bodily harm, obstruction, and destruction of evidence.

Authorities have charged Valerie Young with manslaughter, aggravated child abuse, evidence tampering and depriving Delia Young of medical care. Young is being held on a $2,650,000 bond and Williams's bond is $1 million.

ASCO Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr., announced the conclusion of the long search effort on the ASCO Facebook page, confirming the remains were Delia's. “It is with deep sorrow, we announce the remains have been identified as Delia Young.”

Watson also thanked all those who have worked on the case: “Sheriff Watson would also like to express his appreciation for the hard work, commitment, diligence and tenacity of the deputies and investigators that worked so hard on this case and also for the outpouring of support from the community.”

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