Florida Teens Charged as Adults in Shooting Death of a Classmate | Crime Alert 6AM 12.30.25

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace: "Florida Teens Charged as Adults in Shooting Death of a Classmate"

Crime Alert 6AM - December 30, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a gripping report on some of the most disturbing recent crimes, focusing primarily on the shocking case of two Florida teens charged as adults in the gruesome shooting and burning death of a 14-year-old classmate. Additional segments cover chilling stories of child abuse by a law enforcement officer and his wife, and a harrowing family murder with supernatural delusions at its center. The coverage is led by Sydney Sumner and law enforcement reporters, with direct quotes from sheriffs and detectives to provide expert insight into each tragedy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Florida Teens Charged as Adults in the Death of Danica Troy

• Case Overview (02:08–04:16)

  • Two teens, Gabriel Williams (16) and Kamari Blevins (14), were indicted for the murder of Danica Troy, a 14-year-old girl from Pace, Florida.
  • Danica was found shot multiple times and burned in a wooded area after being lured there by the suspects.
  • Both teens face first-degree premeditated murder charges and are being tried as adults.

• Chilling Details

  • Gabriel Williams reportedly stole his mother's handgun, shot Danica multiple times, and, together with Kamari Blevins, doused her with gasoline and set the body on fire.
  • Law enforcement describes the act as especially heinous due to the ages involved, and the brutality following the murder.

• Possible Motive

  • Investigators are skeptical about the official story; the suspects claimed a social media insult was the motive, but detectives doubt the sufficiency of this reason.
  • Detectives indicate Danica "had a crush" on one of the suspects, perhaps explaining why she willingly accompanied them.
  • Sydney Sumner notes (03:23) the law’s doubts: "Investigators are still trying to determine the motive… unconvinced that the shooting stemmed from a fight over social media."

• Notable Quotes

  • Detective/Investigator [03:13]:

    "We do know that she had a crush on the 16 year old boy and we believe that's why she went out into the woods with them. She had no idea she was going to be murdered, obviously."

  • Detective/Investigator [03:55]:

    "If you call somebody a name in 8th grade, how many of name-calling fights end up with somebody being shot and burned to death? It just doesn't add up to me. There was something else going on and we don't know what that is."

  • Sydney Sumner [02:08]:

    "Two Florida teens were indicted Friday in connection with the death of Danica Troy, a 14 year old Pace girl found murdered earlier this month."

• Case Status

  • The arraignment for both defendants is scheduled for January 8th, 2026.

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2. Reserve Police Officer and Wife Charged with Child Abuse

• Case Summary (04:16–06:40)

  • Matthew and Cassandra Boatwright, a reserve police officer and school bus driver, respectively, are charged with multiple counts of child abuse, strangulation, and domestic violence involving their biological and foster children.
  • The couple allegedly forced children to drink dish soap, physically abused them with a belt and a board, used handcuffs for extended constraint, and in some cases, choked children and threatened them with firearms.

• Abuse Details

  • Accounts from the children include stories of being threatened with a gun, lifted by the neck, and general persistent violence and psychological cruelty.
  • Investigators found unregistered firearms and physical evidence of abuse at the Boatwright residence.

• Legal Action

  • Both were arraigned, held on $200,000 bond, prohibited from contact with the victims or unsupervised contact with any minors, and immediately suspended from their respective jobs.

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3. Man Pleads Guilty in Grandfather’s Murder, Will Testify Against Mother

• Case Outline (06:40–08:14)

  • Jacob Campanin, 22, pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of his grandfather, Alvin Campan, allegedly at the command of his mother, Margaret Campan.
  • The case is bizarre, with both suspects offering supernatural explanations, claiming "spirits" were involved, and referencing the plot of the horror movie 'The Visit' as part of their narrative.
  • Campanin’s plea deal requires him to testify against his mother.

• Notable Quotes

  • Sydney Sumner:

    "Jacob advised that the spirits told him grandpa opened the well up behind the house and the spirits killed him."

  • Reporting notes that many of the suspects’ statements mirrored "the plot of the horror movie The Visit" (07:46).

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Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Investigative Doubt Over Motive
  [03:55] Detective/Investigator:

  "It just doesn't add up to me. There was something else going on and we don't know what that is. My detectives interviewed them both and they stuck with the story of, yeah, they got called a name, so that's why they killed her."

• Brutal Details on the Crime
  [03:04] Sydney Sumner:

  "The defendants lured Danica to a wooded area, shot her, doused her body with gasoline and set her on fire."

• Danica’s Innocence Highlighted
  [03:13] Detective/Investigator:

  "She had no idea she was going to be murdered, obviously."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:08–04:16] — Main segment: Florida teens charged with premeditated murder and case analysis
• [04:16–06:40] — Reserve police officer & wife charged with severe child abuse
• [06:40–08:14] — Grandson pleads guilty to grandfather’s murder and will testify against mother

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Conclusion

This report underscores the chilling reality of violent crime among youth and trusted community members. It unflinchingly confronts the complexities behind juvenile murder, heinous child abuse within adoptive homes, and the deeply disturbing intersection of familial violence and mental instability. Listeners are kept informed of ongoing legal developments and investigative uncertainties, with law enforcement and reporters providing facts, skepticism, and human perspective.

For continuous updates, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the podcast's Crime Alert stream for the latest in crime and justice news.

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Transcript

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[Sydney Sumner]

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[Sydney Sumner]

I'm Sydney Sumner. Two Florida teens were indicted Friday in connection with the death of danica Troy, a 14 year old pace girl found murdered earlier this month. Gabriel Williams, 16, and Kamari Blevins, 14, are facing first degree premeditated murder charges for the death of Danica Troy, 14, who had been shot multiple times.

[Law Enforcement Reporter]

Deputies in Pace responded to a dead body call off of Kimberly road. They developed two suspects, one a 14 year old boy and another one a 16 year old boy. The 16 year old boy, Gabriel Williams stole his mother's handgun and shot Danica. Troy Kamari Blevins is the 14 year old. They're being held on first degree premeditated murder charges. And here's where it even gets worse. It's bad enough you kill a 14 year old. You're 14, you're 16, shoot her multiple times, then they set her on fire.

[Sydney Sumner]

Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson says the defendants lured Danica to a wooded area, shot her, doused her body with gasoline and set her on fire.

[Detective / Investigator]

We do know that she had a Crush on the 16 year old boy and we believe that's why she went out into the woods with them. She had no idea she was going to be murdered. Obviously.

[Sydney Sumner]

Danica's mother reported her missing after the teen vanished with her scooter. While while she had been reported as a runaway on December 1, her burned body was discovered in Pace the following day, a witness reportedly claims. Levin said the initial plan was to shoot Danica once, but Gabriel continued to shoot. They then burned Danica's body and left the area. Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the killing, unconvinced that the shooting stemmed from a fight over social media where Danica called one of the suspects a worthless gangbanger.

[Detective / Investigator]

I mean, if you call somebody a name in 8th grade, how many of name calling fights end up with somebody being shot and burned to death? It just doesn't add up to me. There was something else going on and we don't know what that is. My detectives interviewed them both and they stuck with the story of, yeah, they got called a name, so that's why they killed her.

[Sydney Sumner]

An arraignment for both defendants is scheduled for January 8th. A Reserve Police officer and his wife have been arrested and charged with subjecting their biological and foster children to cruel and unusual punishment. Matthew and Cassandra Boatwright, 34 and 32, have each been charged with six counts of second degree child abuse, four counts of strangulation and two counts of domestic violence. Matthew Boatwright faces an additional domestic violence charge along with two counts of assault with the weapon and one count of felony firearm. Boatwright was immediately relieved of his duties by the Quincy Police Department, where he served as a reserve officer. Cassandra Boatwright was also put on leave from her job as a Quincy Schools bus driver. Seven children were involved, two of them foster placements, one under Matthew Boatwright's guardianship and the remaining four, the couple's biological or stepchildren. All seven between the ages of seven and 15 have been taken into state custody. According to a probable cause statement. The children told investigators they were forced to drink dish soap mixed with water. They were hit with a leather belt and a board as punishment, and they were frequently handcuffed behind their backs and forced to sit for long stretches of time. Four of the children said both parents choked them. Two of the foster children reported that Matthew Boatwright lifted one of them by his neck and pinned him to a bathroom wall while pointing a gun at his head. He also pointed the gun at several young foster children during the same incident. Investigators found three unsecured and unregistered guns at the Boatwright residence, along with a board, belt and handcuffs. The couple was arraigned and ordered held on $200,000 bonds. Do postpone. They are not allowed contact with the children involved in the abuse and cannot have unsupervised contact with any minors. A man charged with shooting his grandfather dead two years ago at the behest of his mother has pleaded guilty to second degree murder and will testify against the mother. Jacob Campanin, 22, entered his plea deal last week. An open murder charge, along with conspiracy and firearm charges were dismissed. Campanin and his mother, Margaret Campan, left home on December 7th in Minnesota, heading to the home of Margaret Campan's father in law, 87 year old Alvin Campan. Margaret Campan's husband told police he had no contact with her and his children after they left and that he was concerned they were heading to his father's house in Wisconsin. He reported a text from his father that they had arrived, but Alvin Campan didn't reply any further. Authorities found Alvin dead from a gunshot wound on December 19, then traced Margaret Campanin and her son via license plate readers arresting them at a gas station in Iowa that same day. Margaret and Jacob Campanin claimed that the man they killed was not Alvin, a search warrant says Jacob told investigators they believed his grandfather was already dead when they arrived at the house to seek shelter. Jacob advised that the spirits told him grandpa opened the well up behind the house and the spirits killed him. Margaret Kim Paynan made similar statements, telling investigators the man they found was able to get up like a 20 year old and was not her father in law. The search warrant noted that many of the claims they made about Alvin were similar to the plot of the horror movie the Visit. Houghton County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Helmer says he ultimately agreed to the plea deal with Jacob after learning Iowa police did not honor his request for a lawyer. During questioning at his plea hearing, Jacob Kampanin admitted driving to his grandfather's house and shooting him, then shooting him again at his mother's encouragement. His sentencing has not been scheduled and he will testify against his mother when her trial begins next year. For the latest crime and justice breaking news, be sure to follow the Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this crime alert, I'm Sydney Sumner.

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