TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A Leon County woman was indicted on murder charges earlier this week in connection with human remains found on her property in 2024.
Candace Battaglia, 40, is being charged with first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated abuse of a disabled adult, failure to report a death, kidnapping, criminal use of personal identification information, grand theft and two counts of child abuse.
Court records show that Battaglia allegedly killed Nelly Kwiatkowski after keeping her confined at her home for years. Battaglia abused her by “caging her and/or intentionally inflicting physical or psychological injury,” according to the indictment.
Battaglia then allegedly stole Social Security money from Kwiatkowski and used her identity after she was dead.
She was arrested in September 2024 and charged with two counts of child abuse, five counts of animal cruelty and resisting arrest without violence, per LCSO. Court records show she pleaded no contest back in 2025 to child neglect and confining animals without sufficient food and water.
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