Two young teenagers from Florida are set to face trial as adults, accused of the brutal premeditated murder of a 14-year-old schoolgirl, whose body was discovered burned and bearing gunshot wounds.
The Alleged Crime and Arrests
Gabriel Williams, 16, and Kimahri Blevins, 14, both from Pace in Santa Rosa County, were indicted on Friday on charges of first-degree premeditated murder. The charges relate to the death of Danika Troy, also 14, in late November. If convicted, the pair face the possibility of life imprisonment without parole.
Danika Troy was last seen alive by her mother, Ashley Troy, on November 30. She was reported as a missing runaway the following morning. Tragically, Sheriff Bob Johnson revealed that "unbeknownst to the mother, Troy was murdered the previous night."
Her body was found in a remote, wooded area on December 2 at around 11 a.m. Investigators described the scene as harrowing, with the victim charred and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Evidence of a fire and live ammunition was recovered nearby.
A Friendship Turned Deadly
According to authorities, the two accused boys were school friends of Danika Troy. However, the relationship soured dramatically over the Thanksgiving break. Reports indicate the alleged motive stemmed from Danika blocking Blevins on social media and having called Williams "worthless and a gang-banger."
Police allege the teens plotted the killing. A witness claimed the plan initially involved shooting the victim once, but Williams allegedly escalated the crime by setting the body on fire. Authorities state Williams used a handgun stolen from his mother to commit the crime, though no parents have been charged in connection with the incident.
On the night of the murder, Blevins' mother reportedly caught him sneaking back into their home. He told her he had gone out for a cigarette, but she later informed police she smelled no smoke on him.
A Family's Grief and a Community's Response
Danika's mother, Ashley Troy, told The New York Post she prays the defendants receive the maximum penalty. Yet, in a profound statement, she said she does not blame the boys themselves. "I blame evil influence," she explained. "I don't hate them, I hate what they did to my baby."
She described the unimaginable pain of loss, particularly as Christmas approaches. "Every other day, every new wave of pain and denial of how this could be real - my baby, killed. It's nothing I ever imagined, my worst nightmare," she said, adding, "There's an emptiness where we were once three and are now just two."
A GoFundMe page established to assist the family with funeral expenses had, as of Sunday night, raised more than $30,000 in a remarkable show of community support.
Williams and Blevins are currently being held without bond at the Santa Rosa County Jail. Their next court appearance is an arraignment scheduled for January 8.
