Father is accused of torture after his 'severely abused' daughter, seven, was found dead in the garage of their California home

• The body of Billie Williams, 7, was discovered by officers in a garage at her home 
• Paramedics rushed to Candlewood Way where they pronounced the girl dead 
• Her father, 30, has been charged with a string of offences relating to her death
• Devastated family members claim they had reported abuse to CPS before

A dad has been accused of torture after his seven-year-old daughter's body was discovered in a garage at their Californian home. 

Officers from Stockton Police Department were dispatched to a home on Candlewood Way, in the early hours of Saturday morning to carry out a welfare check on a child.

Deputies arriving at the scene found the 'unresponsive' body of Billie Williams in the garage. Paramedics were called but pronounced Billie dead at scene. 

Her father, Billey Williams, 30, was arrested and taken to San Joaquin County Jail. 

Seven-year-old Billie Williams (left) was found dead in a garage by Stockton Police Department. Her father Billey Williams, 30 (right), has been charged with a string of offences in relation to his daughter's death

Williams was initially accused of homicide but records show he has since been charged with torture, willful cruelty to a child resulting in injury or death, and battery on a person. He is being held without bail.

Officer Joe Silva said: 'Everyone's wondering how could this father do this to his small daughter?' local media CBS 13 Sacramento reported. 

The Police Department said the girl's exact cause of death is unknown but they believe the girl was 'severely abused', KRCA3 reported.  

Family members claim that CPS has had to intervene before, according to CBS13.

Jelessa Davidson, Billie's devastated aunt, said: 'The teachers, the CPS workers, family members... all failed. I feel like I failed her'. 

Family member Issa Simone wrote an outraged post on Facebook and claimed Billie had been forced to drink toilet water before. 

+2

+2

Family members claim that Child Protective Service have had to intervene before. One family member alleges that she would find Billie locked in the bathroom and forced to drink tap water

Issa, who said her cousin is married to Billie's father, alleges: 'Whenever I would come home from work she would tell she hadn't eaten so I would always go and get her food. 

'They would have her locked in the bathroom drinking toilet water.

'I ended up taking pictures and callings CPS on my cousin and her husband'.  

It is not known who contacted the police but five other children and Billie's stepmother were inside the home at the time her body was discovered.

The other children were taken in to CPS protective custody, police said. 

Both Billie's biological mother and stepmother have been spoken to by investigators, Silva added. 

A memorial service was held for Billie this weekend as devastated family members paid tributes to the youngster. 

He grandmother, Carolyn Bryant, said: 'She was robbed of her life. She was robbed of her innocence. I can't find words. The only thing I can find is pain right now.' 

Other family members have expressed disbelief that her father could be capable of such a crime. 

One said: 'I'm not trying to make my brother out to be an angel or anything like that, but from what I know of my brother he's a very sweet person.' 

Williams is next scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.