The grieving mother of a 14-year-old Florida girl, who was allegedly lured into woodland and murdered by two former friends, has said she does not hate the teenage boys accused of the horrific crime.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Response
Danika Troy, aged 14, was killed on Tuesday in Pace, part of the Pensacola Metropolitan area. According to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, she was enticed into a wooded area by 14-year-old Kimahri Blevins and 16-year-old Gabriel Williams, both of whom she had previously considered friends. Authorities state the teens shot Danika "multiple times" before setting her remains on fire.
Despite the brutality of the act, Ashley Troy, Danika's mother, has expressed a profound and unexpected sentiment. Speaking to the New York Post, she directed her blame not at the individuals, but at an external force. "She loved them, and they brutally murdered her," Ms Troy said. "I don't blame those boys. I blame evil influence. I don't hate them, I hate what they did to my baby." She was, however, clear about wanting justice, adding: "But I want nothing less than for them to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
The Investigation and Alleged Motive
Investigators revealed that the three teens had been friends but experienced a significant "falling out" reportedly stemming from comments made on social media. Blevins told authorities he last spoke with Danika over the Thanksgiving break, but they had argued, leading him to block her on social media. Williams reportedly told police that Danika had made hurtful comments to him, calling him "worthless and a gang-banger," which had upset him.
The firearm used in the killing was allegedly stolen by Williams from his mother. Sheriff Bob Johnson stated there was not yet a clear motive, but emphasised the intention to seek adult charges for the juveniles. "You do an adult crime, you need to do adult time," Johnson said at a press conference on Thursday. "So that's going to be the next effort we're putting forth."
A Community in Mourning
In the immediate aftermath of her daughter's death, Ashley Troy turned to social media, pleading for photographs of Danika. In a Facebook post just three days after the murder, she wrote: "Please anyone with photos of my Danika… post them here. She never would let me take any of her as a teen."
Kimahri Blevins and Gabriel Williams were arrested on charges of first-degree premeditated murder and are currently being held at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The case has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting extreme incidents of youth violence and the complex journey of grief for the families left behind.
