Two Florida teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 14-year-old girl.
Investigators found the body of 14-year-old Danika Troy on Tuesday in the community of Pace, not far from the Alabama border, after a passerby reported her to police on Tuesday, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Troy’s family last saw her on Sunday and she was reported missing on Monday.
Now, authorities say 14-year-old Kimahri Blevins and 16-year-old Gabriel Williams are responsible for her murder. The teens were arrested on first-degree premeditated murder charges and are currently in the custody of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Bob Johnson claimed the teens shot Troy “multiple times” before setting her on fire. Investigators believe the weapon used in the brutal murder was stolen by Williams from his own mother.
Kimahri Blevins, 14, was arrested this week on suspicion of murdering Danika Troy (Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office)
“There’s no clear motive, but I can tell you this: We want to work with the State Attorney’s Office to have these individuals charged as adults,” Johnson said at a news conference Thursday. “You committed an adult crime and you need to spend time as an adult. So that will be our next effort.”
independent The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice have been contacted for comment. Attorneys for Blevins and Williams were unavailable for comment.
Investigators believe Blevins and Williams lured Troy into the woods and planned to murder her pensacola news magazine Report.
Gabriel Williams, 16, accused of stealing mother’s handgun and shooting Danica Troy (Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office)
A cooperating witness said Blevins told him “the original plan was to shoot Danica, but Gabriel continued to shoot,” according to a report obtained by police. Pensacola News Journal. Blevins then reportedly told witnesses that they “burned Danica’s body and left the area.”
Blevins told investigators the last time he spoke to Troy was over the Thanksgiving holiday. They “had an argument and he blocked her on social media,” and Blevins said he hasn’t seen or spoken to her since.
Williams also reportedly told police that “Danica made some hurtful comments to Gabriel, calling him worthless and a gang member, which upset him.”
