Florida police arrested two teenage boys for killing and setting a 14-year-old girl on fire after a dispute. The teens, 16-year-old Gabriel Williams and 14-year-old Kimahri Blevins, are facing first-degree premeditated murder following the discovery of Danika Troy’s charred remains. The victim was reported missing on Monday by her mother. After 24 hours, the burnt body of the young girl was found with several gunshot wounds, which officials say were the cause of her death before she was set on fire.
A neighbour, Sue Petrisch, shared her disbelief, saying the area had always been quiet and that the incident was “terrifying”. According to the arrest report, investigators were told by a witness that Blevins and Williams had planned the attack. Deputies later revealed that Troy was lured to a walking path near Kimberly Road, where she was killed. Sheriff Bob Johnson described the case as deeply disturbing, noting the ages of everyone involved and the deliberate nature of the act.
Troy’s mother told deputies that her daughter left home on her electric scooter the day she went missing. The body was discovered by a man who was taking the same wooded path the next day. Her body was burnt beyond recognition, but police were able to identify her partly through the shoes she was wearing and by the scooter found nearby.
Interviews with both teens offered some insight, but did not fully clarify what drove the attack. Blevins reported that a disagreement between him and Troy before Thanksgiving break led to them having a fallout and him blocking her online. According to Williams’ statement, Troy made some remarks that angered him, but the parts of his statement were redacted in the report. Sheriff Johnson later noted that the explanations offered by the teens did not match the evidence gathered, leaving the motive uncertain.
Investigators also learnt that the firearm used in the attack had been stolen from Williams’ mother. Authorities said no charges are being brought against the parents at this time.
Both teens are currently being held at the Santa Rosa Juvenile Detention Center. It will be decided if they will be charged as adults after a hearing in which the state attorney’s office presents the case to a grand jury.
In response to the tragedy, the Santa Rosa County School District expressed its grief, offering additional support services to students and staff affected by the loss. A GoFundMe has since been created to assist Troy’s family with service expenses.