Florida Mother Says 14-Year-Old Was Lured Into Woods, Shot Multiple Times and Set On Fire — Two Teens Charged

A Florida mother says her 14-year-old daughter, Danika Troy, was persuaded to follow a classmate into a wooded trail in Pace, Fla., where investigators say the teen was shot multiple times and set on fire. Two teenagers have been charged in the killing as detectives continue to investigate the motive and the circumstances surrounding the crime.

Allegations and Arrests

According to an interview with the New York Post, Ashley Troy said she believes 16-year-old Gabriel Williams "pretended to have feelings for her," gaining Danika's trust and leading her into the woods. "That’s how she was lured," Ashley told the outlet.

Authorities have charged Williams and 14-year-old Kimahri Blevins with first-degree premeditated murder in Danika’s death. Both teens are being held without bond at the Department of Juvenile Justice while prosecutors coordinate with investigators to determine whether to pursue charges in adult court.

Timeline and Evidence

Danika was reported missing by her mother on Dec. 1. A passerby discovered her body the next day in a wooded area in Pace, a community in Florida’s Panhandle. Officials say she had been shot multiple times and then set on fire.

"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," Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said.

Sheriff Johnson said detectives rapidly focused on Williams and Blevins after identifying the victim. He also said both suspects had prior "run-ins" with law enforcement, though he declined to release details because of their ages.

Conflicting Accounts And Forensics

Investigators initially explored whether a social-media dispute over the Thanksgiving break played a role. According to the sheriff's office, the teens allegedly told detectives they targeted Danika after she blocked Blevins on social media and called Williams "worthless and a gang banger." Danika’s mother rejected that explanation as an excuse.

Sheriff Johnson added that the teenagers' explanations "don’t fit the forensics or any facts of the case," and investigators say they have not yet established a definitive motive.

Family Reaction And Next Steps

Ashley Troy said she is desperate for answers. "I still need answers. I’m just left asking why," she told the Post. "She just wanted to be in love." She has also said she believes an "evil influence" may have been involved and wants the suspects prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Prosecutors and the sheriff's office say investigations are ongoing as they collect forensic evidence and interview witnesses. Fox News Digital reached out to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office for comment but did not immediately receive a reply.