The heartbroken mum of a 14-year-old girl who was brutally murdered has blamed 'evil influence' after two boys were arrested. Ashley Troy spoke out after her daughter Danika Troy was discovered dead in woods in Pace, Florida.
Two Florida teens now face murder charges after allegedly luring the teen to a wood to "execute" her. Gabriel Williams, 16, and Kimahri Blevins, 14, were arrested by Santa Rose County police officers and charged them with first-degree premeditated murder.
It is alleged they lured Danika into the woods and shot her multiple times before dousing her body in gasoline and setting her alight.
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said the alleged killers were "supposedly" friends from school with the victim. A witness told police that the boys planned to kill Danika after she insulted Williams and blocked Blevins on social media, according to arrest reports.
Danika's mum Ashley has now opened up on her daughter's horrific death, blaming 'evil influence' rather than attaching any blame to the suspects.
"I don't blame those boys. I blame evil influence," the heartbroken mother told The New York Post via text message.
A candlelit vigil is set to take place for the murdered teenager at her family's church, Avalon Baptist Church in Milton, on Monday evening. A GoFundMe page has been established to help with funeral expenses.
Devout baptist Ashley said she hoped her daughter's death would lead others to join the church.
"She was beautiful and loved Jesus,'' Ashley said of her daughter. "If anything would make this sacrifice worth it, it would be leading others to Christ."
The mother revealed that their church, Avalon Baptist Church in nearby Milton, has rallied around her family during this tragic time.
"Our church has flooded us with love, taken over everything. My family was hit very hard, I don't know what I'd do without my church family,'' she said.
An announcement for the vigil reads: "Our community is coming together to honor the life of Danika, a beautiful soul taken from us too soon.
"Please join us for a candlelight vigil as we remember Danika, celebrate her life and ask God to bring peace, healing, and strength to everyone who carries her in their hearts."
Williams and Blevins have both been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and are being held without bond. Sheriff Johnson said his team would work with the state attorney's office to get the teens charged as adults.
"You do an adult crime, you do adult time," the sheriff said.