Two teenagers in Florida have been arrested on first-degree premeditated murder charges in connection with the death of 14-year-old Danika Troy.
Danika’s body was discovered on Tuesday in a wooded area in the community of Pace, near the Alabama border, after a passerby reported seeing human remains, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Her family last saw her on Sunday, and she was reported missing on Monday.
Authorities say 14-year-old Kimahri Blevins and 16-year-old Gabriel Williams are responsible for her death. Both are facing first-degree premeditated murder charges and are currently being held by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the sheriff’s office said.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said the teens allegedly shot Danika multiple times before setting her body on fire. Investigators believe the gun used in the killing was a handgun Williams stole from his mother.
“There’s not a clear motive, but I can tell you this: we’re going to be hopefully working with the State Attorney’s Office to get these individuals charged as adults,” Johnson said at a Thursday press conference. “You do an adult crime, you need to do adult time. So that’s going to be the next effort we’re putting forth.”
The Independent has contacted the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice for comment. Attorneys for Blevins and Williams have not been identified.
According to reporting from the Pensacola News Journal, investigators believe Blevins and Williams lured Danika into the woods with the intention of killing her.
A cooperating witness told police that Blevins said the “initial plan was to shoot Danika once, but Gabriel continued to shoot,” according to a police report cited by the outlet. Blevins allegedly also told the witness that they “burned Danika’s body and left the area.”
In an interview with investigators, Blevins claimed he last spoke with Danika during Thanksgiving break. He said they had a falling out, that he blocked her on social media, and that he had not seen or spoken to her since, according to police documents.
Williams reportedly told investigators that Danika had made “hurtful comments” to him, calling him “worthless” and a “gang-banger,” which he said upset him.
