The heartbroken mother of Florida teen Danica Troy, who was tragically murdered, shared her thoughts with the Post. Surprisingly, she stated that she didn’t hold the boys responsible for her daughter’s death, placing the blame instead on “evil influences” present in society.
Ashley Troy expressed in a message, “She loved them, and they brutally killed her.”
According to police, the 14-year-old Danica was lured to Pace Woods by 14-year-old Kimari Blevins and 16-year-old Gabriel Williams, both of whom were her friends. They are accused of shooting her and then setting her body on fire.
The boys apparently felt wronged after Danica blocked Kimari on social media and insulted Gabriel, calling him “worthless and a gangbanger,” which led them to plot her murder, as per authorities.
Ashley mentioned that Danica’s story reminded her of the Hulu true-crime series “Under the Bridge,” detailing the murder of a girl in Canada back in 1997. “It’s too similar,” she reflected. “I try not to think about it constantly, especially with the series coming out in 2024.”
Despite the overwhelming grief and shock within the community, Ashley stated she harbors no resentment towards the suspects. “I don’t blame those boys. It’s the fallout. I don’t hate them. I hate what they did to my baby,” she shared.
She expressed a hope that the legal system would hold the boys accountable. “She was beautiful and loved Jesus,” Ashley commented on her daughter. “If there’s any purpose in this tragedy, it’s to guide others to Christ.”
Ashley also noted how much support her family received from their church, Avalon Baptist Church near Milton. “They’ve showered us with love and taken care of everything for us. My family is devastated, and I don’t know what we would do without our church family,” she said.
To assist with funeral expenses, a GoFundMe page has been created, and the church is organizing a candlelight vigil in Danica’s honor for Monday night.
“Our community is uniting to celebrate Danica’s life, a beautiful soul taken from us too soon,” read part of the service announcement shared by Ashley.
“Please join us for a candlelight vigil in memory of Danica as we celebrate her life and pray for peace and strength for all who loved her,” she urged.
The two suspects, appearing quite young, have been charged with first-degree premeditated murder.
