Florida Teens to be Tried as Adults for Luring Classmate to Shooting Death | Crime Alert 6AM 12.26.25

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: "Florida Teens to be Tried as Adults for Luring Classmate to Shooting Death"
Date: December 26, 2025
Host: Sydney Sumner (reporting for Nancy Grace’s Crime Alert format)

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Episode Overview

In this Crime Alert episode, Sydney Sumner details several shocking and high-profile crime stories, with a focus on a disturbing case out of Florida where two teenagers are being tried as adults for the calculated, brutal murder of their 14-year-old classmate, Danica Troy. The episode also covers cases involving severe child abuse by a police officer and his wife, and a chilling familicide in Wisconsin. Each segment spotlights the gravity of these incidents and probes their unsettling circumstances.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Florida Teens Tried as Adults for the Murder of Danica Troy (00:02–02:11)

• Case Summary:

  • Danica Troy, a 14-year-old girl from Pace, Florida, was found murdered earlier in December.
  • Gabriel Williams (16) and Kamari Blevins (14) were indicted for first-degree premeditated murder.
  • Williams stole his mother’s handgun, lured Danica to a wooded area, shot her multiple times, and, with Blevins, set her body on fire (00:24–00:59).

• Investigation Details:

  • Authorities say Danica had a crush on Williams, which likely led her to trust the boys and follow them into the woods.
  • The girl had been reported missing as a runaway by her mother after she vanished with her scooter on December 1. Her burned body was discovered the next day (01:08–01:18).

• Motive and Witness Reports:

  • A witness claims the initial plan was to “shoot Danica once” but Williams continued shooting her. Both suspects allegedly burned her body and fled.
  • Investigators remain unconvinced that this violence was just a response to a social media insult where Danica allegedly called one of the boys a “worthless gangbanger.”
    • “If you call somebody a name in eighth 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.” — Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson (01:50)

• Legal Proceedings:

  • Both teenagers are being tried as adults, with arraignment scheduled for January 8.

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2. Police Officer and Wife Charged with Severe Child Abuse (02:11–03:44, 06:13)

• Arrests and Charges:

  • Matthew (34) and Cassandra Boatwright (32) of Quincy, Michigan, have been charged with multiple counts of child abuse, strangulation, domestic violence, and (for Matthew) assault with a weapon and felony firearm.
  • Seven children were involved: four biological/stepchildren, one under Matthew’s guardianship, and two foster children—all between 7 and 15 years old.

• Nature of Abuse:

  • Children were forced to drink dish soap mixed with water; physically punished with belts and a board; and frequently handcuffed for long periods.
  • Four children claim both parents strangled them. Foster children described an incident where Matthew lifted one child by the neck, pinned him to a wall, and pointed a gun at his head, threatening others as well (02:50–03:44).

• Legal Status:

  • The Boatwrights were arraigned, held on $200,000 bonds, and ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minors.
  • Authorities found three unsecured and unregistered guns, along with the implements of abuse, at the house (06:13).

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3. Familicide: Grandson Pleads Guilty to Murdering Grandfather at Mother’s Behest (06:13–08:40)

• Case Summary:

  • Jacob Campanin (22) pled guilty to second-degree murder for fatally shooting his grandfather, Alvin Campan (87), in Wisconsin in 2023, under the direction of his mother, Margaret Campan.

• Details of the Crime:

  • Margaret and Jacob traveled from Minnesota to Alvin’s home. After the murder, they claimed the victim was not Alvin, with both referencing “spirits” and ideas echoing a horror movie plot.
  • “Jacob advised that the spirits told him grandpa opened the well up behind the house and the spirits killed him. Margaret Kimpanin made similar statements… the man they found was able to get up like a 20-year-old and was not her father-in-law.” (07:33)

• Investigation & Plea Deal:

  • Police tracked and arrested Margaret and Jacob the day Alvin’s body was discovered. During interrogation, they gave incoherent explanations heavily influenced by horror media.
  • Jacob accepted a plea after issues with access to counsel in Iowa. His sentencing is pending; he will testify against his mother when her trial begins.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Santa Rosa Sheriff Bob Johnson, on the Florida teens’ alleged motive:

  • “If you call somebody a name in the eighth 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.” (01:50)

• Santa Rosa Sheriff Bob Johnson, on Danica’s tragic trust:

  • “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.” (01:08)

• Investigator’s summary of the Boatwright case:

  • “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.” (03:01)

• On the Campanin murder’s bizarre justification:

  • “Jacob advised that the spirits told him grandpa opened the well up behind the house and the spirits killed him. Margaret Kimpanin made similar statements… Many of the claims they made about Alvin were similar to the plot of the horror movie The Visit.” (07:33)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:02–02:11: Florida teens indicted for first-degree murder of Danica Troy; crime and investigation details; commentary by Sheriff Johnson.
• 02:11–03:44, 06:13: Abuse and charges against Matthew & Cassandra Boatwright; details from child interviews; arrest conditions.
• 06:13–08:40: The Campanin murder-for-hire; bizarre confessions linked to horror movies; plea and upcoming testimony.

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Tone and Style

The reporting is straightforward, focusing on hard facts, with direct quotes from law enforcement and careful, unflinching retelling of events. The tone is serious, occasionally incredulous at the brutality and senselessness of the crimes (especially in the Florida teen murder), aiming to convey both gravity and urgency.

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Conclusion

This episode of "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" exposes the dark realities of recent violent crimes—from manipulative and brutal teen murder, to family-based child abuse under color of authority, to a disturbing case of familicide and delusion. Each story underscores the importance of vigilance and the tireless work of investigators in the search for justice.

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Transcript

[Sydney Sumner]

Crime Alert.

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[Sydney Sumner]

Breaking crime news now. 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.

[Pace Deputies/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 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.

[Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson]

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 she had been reported as a runaway on December 1st. 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.

[Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson]

I mean, if you call somebody a name in, in eighth 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 Decluttering is everything.

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[Sydney Sumner]

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. If they do post bond, they 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. Campan 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 Kimpanon didn't reply any further. Authorities found Alvin dead from a gunshot wound on December 19, then traced Margaret Campan 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 Kimpanin 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 Campan 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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