Tragic Murder of Florida Teen Linked to Online Dispute
In a shocking incident, two young teens from Florida are accused of luring a 14-year-old girl into the woods, where they allegedly shot her and subsequently set her body on fire, all stemming from an online dispute.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson shared details at a press briefing, revealing that the victim, Danica Troy, was last seen by her mother on November 30. She was reported missing around 7 a.m. the following day.
“Unbeknownst to her mother, Danica was murdered last night,” Johnson stated.
Troy’s remains were discovered in a wooded area along Kimberly Road in Pace, Florida, which is situated about 17 miles north of Pensacola, around 11 a.m. on December 2.
The primary suspects, 14-year-old Kimari Blevins and 16-year-old Gabriel Williams, have been charged with first-degree premeditated murder.
Authorities believe Troy died from multiple gunshot wounds before her body was burned.
“This is where things get really scary,” Johnson expressed. “It’s already tragic to kill a 14-year-old, but then to shoot her multiple times and burn her?”
Investigators mentioned that the three teens had known each other since middle school but had a falling out over the Thanksgiving holiday.
A witness reported that Blevins admitted to planning to kill Danica, initially intending to shoot her just once. Reports indicate that Troy was targeted after she insulted Williams and blocked Blevins on social media.
Williams is believed to have escalated the situation further by participating in the act of burning Troy’s body. A report indicated that Blevins returned home late that night, allegedly telling his mother he had gone out for a cigarette.
During questioning, he acknowledged the fallout with Troy and admitted to blocking her online.
Johnson noted that, while a clear motive wasn’t established, the discrepancies in the suspects’ accounts and the physical evidence led to their quick apprehension.
“This is what serious crime organizations call grounders,” Johnson commented, emphasizing the rapidity of the investigation. “Unfortunately for the Troy family, they have to endure this.”
While both teens have had previous encounters with law enforcement, Johnson declined to provide specifics on any prior arrests.
He also mentioned that the case might expand to include charges against one of Troy’s parents, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Johnson expressed concern over the rising homicide rates in the county this year, highlighting that this case marked the first juvenile-on-juvenile crime since his election as sheriff in 2016.
“You don’t want to come across a child with bullet wounds and burns. That’s not what you sign up for,” he lamented.
The sheriff indicated that the two suspects may be tried as adults, asserting, “They committed an adult crime, so they have to serve adult time.” Currently, both are being held at a juvenile detention facility.
