A quiet walking trail in northwestern Florida has become the scene of one of the most disturbing crimes the region has seen in years, leaving residents and investigators shaken.
According to Fox News, authorities in Santa Rosa County revealed that the body found last week along a wooded path belonged to 14-year-old Danika Troy.
The discovery came after her mother reported her missing on Monday, unaware that the girl had already been killed the night before.
“Unbeknownst to the mother, Danika was murdered the previous night,” Sheriff Bob Johnson said during a briefing.
A passerby came across the body off Kimberly Road in Pace — roughly 16 miles northeast of Pensacola — and called 911. What investigators found next prompted Johnson to describe the crime as “horrific.”
Investigators quickly identified two suspects: 14-year-old Kimahri Blevins and 16-year-old Gabriel Williams. Both teens were arrested soon after and taken into custody.
“This is where it gets really horrific,” Johnson said. “It’s bad enough you kill a 14-year-old. You’re 14. You’re 16. Shoot her multiple times, and then they set her on fire.”
According to the sheriff, Williams allegedly stole a handgun from his mother before the attack.
The two boys reportedly knew the victim from school, and Johnson said they had previous “run-ins” with law enforcement — though he did not confirm whether any prior arrests existed.
Investigators remain uncertain about what motivated such a brutal act.
“They have been interviewed, but the motive that they’re giving doesn’t fit the forensics or any facts of the case, so we don’t have a legit motive,” Johnson said.
Blevins and Williams are currently being held at the Department of Juvenile Justice on charges of premeditated first-degree murder. Authorities are working with the State Attorney’s Office to determine whether the teens will be prosecuted as adults.
“If you do an adult crime, you gotta do adult time,” Johnson said.
The sheriff also spoke about the emotional toll of the case on investigators and first responders.
“You don’t want to go out and see a burnt child with bullet holes,” he said. “That’s not something you sign up for.”
No parents have been charged at this stage, though Johnson confirmed that investigators are still examining the circumstances surrounding the teens.
The community remains stunned as the case continues to unfold, with many demanding answers about how such violence could occur among children.
