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)

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.

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.

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).

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.