Florida authorities have accused two teenage boys of luring a girl into the woods to kill her — allegedly over “hurtful” comments she had made online.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson held a Thursday, December 4, briefing with reporters on the murder of Danika Troy, who was last seen by her mother on November 30.
Troy, 14, was reported missing the next day. The search for the missing teen ended around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2, when Troy was found dead in a wooded area of Pace, Florida.
Johnson called the murder “horrific,” noting the girl was shot to death before her remains were set on fire.
Johnson said investigators quickly identified Kimahri Blevins, 14, and Gabriel Williams, 16, as the alleged killers, and charged both with first-degree premeditated murder. According to authorities, it is likely that the teens will be tried as adults.
“Hopefully, they go to adult prison, which is where they need to go,” Johnson said at a news conference. “You do an adult crime; you got to do the adult time.”
Johnson said that a random citizen happened upon the gruesome scene and called 911. Danika had been shot “multiple” times, Johnson told reporters, adding that her remains were intentionally torched.
Police also found her electric scooter not far from where her body was located.
Johnson said that it is believed the murder weapon was a gun registered to Williams’ mother.
“It’s bad enough that you kill a 14-year-old,” said Johnson. “You’re 14, you’re 16, shoot her multiple times, then they set her on fire.”
Johnson described the three as “acquaintances” but noted they had had a falling out during the recent Thanksgiving break.
Danika was allegedly killed by the boys because she blocked Blevins’ social media account and called Williams “worthless” and a “gang-banger” in a post.
Authorities claim that the two teens discussed the murder with someone, who then came forward to police.
Johnson called the case “a ground ball,” as all the evidence pointed to the accused tees immediately.
On the night of the murder, Blevins’ mother caught him sneaking back home just after 11 p.m., at which point he told his mother he had gone out to smoke. However, she told police that he didn’t smell any cigarette smoke on his clothing.
When he was questioned by detectives, Blevins confirmed that he and Danika “had a falling out,” Johnson said.
As he was being handcuffed, Williams allegedly cried to detectives that the teen girl had made “hurtful comments” about him online.
Johnson said that detectives were exploring the possibility of charging the boys’ parents in connection with the teen girl’s murder.
“You don’t want to go out to see a burnt child with bullet holes, that is not something you sign up for,” Johnson said.
Both teens are being held in a juvenile detention center without bond. It was unclear if they had attorneys who could comment on their behalf, and attempts to reach their parents for comment on Tuesday went unanswered.
Read the full article here
