Polk County second baseman Kaitlyn Williams plays during a game against Cleveland High School.On March 14, Polk County High School sophomore softball player Kaitlyn Williams learned that her mother, Gina, had taken her own life.
Kaitlyn’s brother, Dakota, is a junior at Polk County. Their father, Verlin, said his children knew at that time their mother recently had gotten into trouble at work, but they didn’t know she had been arrested and charged with embezzlement.
Kaitlyn had gone to practice reluctantly that day.
“First period that day we talked about suicide in my child life span and development class,” Kaitlyn said. “We talked about it all day. Then my mom was texting me that she loved me and my brother. I was wondering, ‘Why is she saying this?’ I knew something was up. I just didn’t feel like going to practice that day.”
Kaitlyn said her mother loved watching her play softball. She said her mother always told her she did well, even on days when Kaitlyn said she knew she hadn’t.