Two teenagers from Pace, Florida were apprehended on Thursday, facing charges of first-degree premeditated murder in connection with the death of 14-year-old Danika Jade Troy. Troy’s body was discovered on Tuesday on a walking trail near Kimberly Road in the Floridatown area of Santa Rosa County, as reported by the local sheriff’s office. The arrests concluded a four-day search initiated after Troy’s mother reported her missing on Monday. The suspects, identified as 16-year-old Gabriel Coleman Williams and 14-year-old Kimahri Blevins, are alleged to have planned the attack. The case is currently under review by prosecutors who will decide whether to charge the teenagers as adults.
The murder has sent shockwaves through the suburban community outside Pensacola, with classmates and school officials expressing grief and disbelief. According to investigators, Troy left her home on Monday with her electric scooter and failed to return. A man walking along a wooded path off Kimberly Road discovered a burned body on Tuesday morning. Deputies later identified the victim as Troy based on the shoes she was wearing and the scooter found nearby.
Sheriff Bob Johnson stated that the suspects allegedly lured the girl to the area, shot her multiple times, and then set her body on fire. Crime scene tape was still visible on Thursday as technicians photographed the trail and collected shell casings. Arrest reports indicate that a cooperating witness claimed Williams and Blevins had discussed their plan in advance. Blevins reportedly told deputies that he and Troy had a disagreement on social media before Thanksgiving break. Williams, on the other hand, told detectives that Troy had made comments that upset him.
The motive behind the murder remains unclear, with Johnson stating that the statements collected so far “don’t fit the forensics.” The sheriff also revealed that the handgun used in the shooting was stolen from Williams’ mother. As of Thursday, no charges had been filed against any parents in relation to the weapon.
Records show that Troy was reported missing by her mother on Monday afternoon. The sheriff’s office believes the murder likely took place on Sunday night, Nov. 30, and the body was discovered on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The trail where Troy’s body was found is located near homes in Floridatown, a typically quiet community along Escambia Bay between Pace and Milton.
Santa Rosa County District Schools confirmed that two students were arrested in connection with the off-campus incident and that counseling services were being offered on affected campuses. The district is cooperating with law enforcement and declined to release additional details while the investigation is ongoing. Both suspects are currently being held at the Santa Rosa Juvenile Detention Center.
Prosecutors with the First Judicial Circuit are preparing to present the case to a grand jury to determine whether Williams and Blevins will be tried as adults. If indicted as adults on first-degree murder charges, both could face mandatory life sentences under Florida law. If prosecuted in juvenile court, the penalties would be different. Further briefings will be scheduled after the grand jury review. Funeral arrangements for Troy were pending as of Thursday evening.