Press Releases

MIAMI, FL – Today, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24), released the following statement in response to the verdict in the trial of Geralyn Graham, who was charged with first degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated child abuse in connection with the 2001 disappearance of Rilya Wilson, a four-year-old foster child in her care. Jurors convicted Graham of abusing and kidnapping the child, but a mistrial was declared on the murder charge.

“I have mixed emotions today,” said Congresswoman Wilson. While this verdict brings some degree of closure to the criminal aspect of this case, we have much more work to do in order to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. Rilya would have been 16 years old today, with a world of opportunity open to her. While we cannot change the tragic fact of her death, we can take steps—including passing the federal version of the Rilya Wilson Act—to honor her memory by making life safer for young people in her position. Foster children are the most vulnerable members of our community, and we have an obligation to protect them.

I applaud the Office of State Attorney Kathy Rundle and the Assistant State Attorneys who worked diligently on this case. Situations like these are always difficult and the State Attorney’s Office was professional and diligent in its efforts.”

--

After it was revealed that the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) took 15 months to become aware of Rilya’s disappearance, Congresswoman Wilson began a major legislative action that ultimately resulted in sweeping changes to the DCF.

The Rilya Wilson Act, which passed the Florida Legislature on July 16, 2003, is widely considered the most extensive overhaul to foster care law in decades. If a child in Florida DCF care is reported as absent from school, the school is now obligated under the law to report the absence to the child’s caseworker. The caseworker is then obligated to visit the child and determine whether the child is within the custody of a proper guardian. If that child is missing, the caseworker must notify law enforcement, and law enforcement will then proceed to find the child. She has sponsored a federal adaptation of the Rilya Wilson Act, which requires that states have procedures in place to report missing children to law enforcement for entry into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This bipartisan bill has more than 100 co-sponsors and is supported by the South Florida Congressional Delegation.

Congresswoman Wilson is available for comment.

###

U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.