Danika Troy’s mother says her daughter’s murderers tricked her into the woods by saying they liked her.

Murder of Florida Teen: Disturbing Details Emerge

One of the boys accused of murdering Florida teen Danica Troy lured her into the woods by feigning romantic interest, according to her mother. “Gabe pretended to have feelings for her, and that’s how she was drawn in,” Ashley Troy said, referencing Gabriel Williams, 16, who has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder alongside 14-year-old Kimari Blevins.

Ashley expressed her anguish, stating, “She still needs answers. She just wants to know why. All she ever wanted was to be in love.”

Danica, just 14, was reported missing on December 1. The following day, her body was discovered in a wooded area of Pace after a passerby alerted authorities. She had been shot multiple times, and her body was subsequently set on fire.

Authorities swiftly identified Williams and Blevins as primary suspects. They linked the murder to a confrontation on social media during the Thanksgiving holiday, where Danica had blocked Blevins and insulted Williams, calling him “worthless and a gangbanger.” As a result, they believed the boys wanted her dead.

Ashley termed their explanations as mere excuses, insisting, “What the boys said just doesn’t hold water.”

Both suspects have had previous run-ins with law enforcement, although, because they are minors, further details about those incidents remain unclear.

In light of this tragic event, Avalon Baptist Church near Milton is organizing a candlelight vigil for Danica on Monday night. Meanwhile, the suspects remain detained in a juvenile facility without the possibility of bail.