Pace man charged after failing to report death, taking Danika Troy’s scooter
Mitchell Eddins, 45, is charged with crimes against a person for failing to report a death to the medical examiner or law enforcement organization and larceny for stealing a scooter worth between $100 and $750.
Eddins was arrested Dec. 3, the day after he found the body of Danika Troy.
Navarre Press reported earlier this month that Steve Williams found the body Dec. 2 around 10:30 p.m. Williams is affiliated with Milton Search and Rescue, a private search and rescue group. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed Williams was the one who reported finding Troy’s body to law enforcement.
According to the agency, Williams reported that an associate informed him of a body located in the woods. After searching the area, Williams located the body and then contacted 911. At first, Williams suspected the deceased may be another person who he had been looking for.
“During follow-up interviews with community members, detectives located the individual Mr. Williams had initially assumed was the victim,” Capt. Jones with the agency’s Major Crimes Unit told Santa Rosa Press Gazette. “During these interviews, Mitchell Eddins admitted that he had previously seen the body and had taken an electric scooter from the scene. Mr. Eddins did not report the discovery of the body to the Sheriff’s Office.”
Williams told Navarre Press he never assumed whose body it was but said he felt it was a “50/50” chance it may be one of the people he was looking for. Williams said he later confirmed the other person he was looking for was alright.
According to Eddins’ arrest report, when deputies arrived on scene, they found a charger belonging to an electric scooter near the body of Troy. Initially, deputies didn’t know what the charger belonged to.
Eddins was later identified as the person who initially found Troy’s body. Deputies went to a residence at the 4300 block of Floridatown Road to speak with Eddins Dec. 3.
Eddins reportedly told investigators he had stopped on Kimberly Road to relieve himself at 1 p.m. Dec. 2 and walked down the path into the wooded area until there was a “fork” in the area. This is when he observed the area where Troy’s body was found, which was in a burned area of the woods.
Eddins noticed a scooter, black in color, nearby. He allegedly took the scooter from the scene. Eddins also reportedly told others about discovering the body and the scooter.
While he was advised to contact law enforcement, Eddins didn’t. His explanation was redacted in his arrest report.
The scooter, black with red trim, was tied to Troy when she was categorized as a missing person Dec. 1.