Pace, Florida, December 7th, 2025.
A solemn briefing from THE SANTA ROSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE has provided the public with the first authoritative account of the killing of 14-year-old Danika Troy and the arrest of two juvenile suspects. Sheriff Bob Johnson delivered the details during a press conference held on December 4th, and his remarks stand as the only confirmed, first-hand description of the crime, the investigation, and the current status of the case.

The sheriff explained that the investigation began when Danika was reported as a runaway by her mother at approximately 7:00 in the morning on December 1st in the community of Pace. The mother did not yet know that Danika had already been killed the previous night. On the following day, December 2nd, a resident walking near Kimberly Road came upon a body in a wooded area and contacted authorities. Deputies responded, called in Major Crimes detectives, and began working the case immediately.

Sheriff Johnson described the scene as one that no person should ever have to encounter. He stated that the individual who had discovered the body was traumatized, and he acknowledged that the detectives who responded were forced to witness circumstances that none of them had expected to see. The body, later identified as that of Danika Troy, had been both shot multiple times and set on fire.

From the earliest stages of the investigation, detectives developed two juvenile suspects. Sheriff Johnson identified them as 16-year-old Gabriel Williams and 14-year-old Kamari Blevins. According to the sheriff, Williams had stolen his mother’s handgun and had used it to shoot Danika, while Blevins participated in the crime alongside him. Both suspects have been taken into custody and are presently being held at the Department of Juvenile Justice on charges of first-degree premeditated murder.

Sheriff Johnson stated that the evidence pointed to the suspects immediately and that both were located and detained without delay. He added that his office intends to work closely with the State Attorney’s Office in order to pursue adult charges, asserting that individuals who commit crimes of this nature should face the corresponding adult consequences. The sheriff explained that his office has had prior contact with the suspects, though he did not provide further detail during the briefing. He noted that Danika and the two boys were acquaintances through their school and that the suspects were associated with High Roads.

When pressed regarding motive, Sheriff Johnson stated clearly that there is no legitimate motive at this time. He explained that the accounts provided by the suspects during their interviews do not align with the forensic evidence nor with any established facts in the case. He declined to repeat the statements made by the suspects until further coordination with the State Attorney’s Office is completed, and he emphasized that no working motive can yet be confirmed.

The sheriff concluded his remarks by identifying the victim by name and spelling it for the record, noting that her name is spelled D A N I K A T R O Y. He expressed regret that the Troy family must endure such a tragedy and affirmed that the Major Crimes Unit, which has already faced an unusually high number of homicide cases this year, continues its diligent work on both this investigation and others presently underway.

The information presented here reflects only what has been directly confirmed by THE SANTA ROSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE and contains no details beyond those established through first-hand statements given publicly by Sheriff Bob Johnson.

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Sources

Primary First-Hand Sources

• THE SANTA ROSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, December 4th Press Conference, Sheriff Bob Johnson, publicly posted on the official Sheriff’s Office page and transcribed from recorded remarks.

Secondary Attribution-Based Sources

• No secondary sources were used in this report in accordance with Appalachian Post standards for cases where first-hand statements are available.