A Florida teenager who was found shot multiple times and burned in the woods was allegedly lured to her death by a boy who said he liked her, her mum has revealed.
Danika Troy, 14, was first reported missing on December 1 before her body was found in Pace, Florida.
16-year-old Gabriel Williams and 14-year-old Kimahri Blevins have both since been charged with first-degree premeditated murder.
Ashley Troy, Danika’s mum, has now told the New York Post that Gabe ‘pretended to have feelings for her’ to lure her to her death.
‘I still need answers. I’m just left asking why. She just wanted to be in love,’ Ashley said.
Police believe the murder was a result of a fight online, which happened over the Thanksgiving holidays, and resulted in Danika blocking Blevins on social media.
Prosecutors believe the teens then planned the murder of Danika.
On the night of her death, Blevins’ mum told officers he snuck home around 11pm, claiming he was smoking a cigarette – but she didn’t smell any smoke.
Danika’s mum believes claims of an online fight aren’t true, saying their statements were ‘an excuse’.
Both Daniels and Blevins are being held in a juvenile prison without bond.
Ashley added, ‘I don’t blame those boys. I blame evil influence. I don’t hate them; I hate what they did to my baby. But I want nothing less than for them to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.’
Sheriff Bob Johnson said the gun used in the murder appears to have been stolen from Williams’ mother.
He added: ‘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.
‘You do an adult crime, you need to do adult time. So that’s going to be the next effort we’re putting forth.’
Neighbours are in shock at Danika’s death, with local Sue Petrisch telling NBC 15: ‘It shocks me. It’s always been so quiet here, and it’s getting bad. It’s terrifying, in fact.’
The Santa Rosa County District School District released a statement in response to the murder, reading: ‘Santa Rosa County District Schools is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our students. Our hearts are with the family as they face an unimaginable loss.’
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