Florida Man Arrested After Delayed Report of Burned 14-Year-Old’s Body Found in Woods, Police Say

FLORIDA – Authorities in Santa Rosa County have announced a third arrest connected to the horrific death of 14-year-old Danika Troy, whose burned body was discovered in a wooded area earlier this month. The latest arrest does not involve the killing itself, but rather the man who reported finding her body—hours after he first saw it, according to investigators.

Mitchell Eddins, 45, was taken into custody after police determined he delayed contacting law enforcement and also removed a scooter believed to belong to the victim. Eddins faces two misdemeanor charges: failure to report a death and petit theft.

Man Reported Finding Body Hours Too Late, Police Say

According to an arrest report reviewed by Law&Crime, Eddins called police shortly after midnight on Dec. 3 to report a body in the woods near Pace, Florida—a body later confirmed to be Danika Troy. But investigators say he actually discovered the scene around 1 p.m. on Dec. 2, nearly 11 hours earlier.

Eddins told police he had been walking along a wooded trail when he stopped to relieve himself and noticed a burned patch of ground. He then saw a black scooter, and when he went to take it, he discovered a burned body lying nearby.

Instead of calling authorities immediately, Eddins allegedly took the scooter home, told several people about the body, and still did not notify police.

When investigators asked why he waited so long, Eddins reportedly responded that “he planned to” report it later.

Police later found the scooter in a back room of Eddins’ home.

Two Teenagers Already Charged With Murder

Eddins is not accused of participating in Troy’s killing. Instead, he is considered a witness whose delayed response and theft of evidence warranted charges.

Two juveniles—16-year-old Gabriel Williams and 14-year-old Kimahri Blevins—have already been charged with murder in the case.

Investigators say the teens lured Troy into the woods on Nov. 30, shot her multiple times, and set her body on fire. A witness later told police the teens planned to kill Troy because she insulted Williams on social media and blocked Blevins’ account, according to arrest records.

Troy had last been seen alive the night she was allegedly lured into the woods.

Eddins Held on $7,500 Bail as Investigation Continues

Eddins was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail and is being held on $7,500 bail. His next scheduled court appearance is Dec. 16.

Authorities have not announced any additional suspects in the murder itself, but say the investigation into Troy’s death remains active.

ChicagoMusicGuide.com will continue to follow developments in this case as more information becomes available.