Man who found Danika Troy’s body, took scooter sentenced to prison

Mitchell Eddins, 46, was sentenced to four years in state prison and 364 days in county jail after pleading guilty to felony petit theft and failing to report a death to the Medical Examiner’s Office or law enforcement.

The court also ordered Eddins to pay $668 in fines.

Eddins was arrested in December following an investigation into the death of Troy, a 14-year-old Floridatown girl who authorities say was shot and her body burned.

Two teenage boys were arrested in connection with Troy’s death, but the homicide investigation also prompted another question for investigators: Who first found Troy’s body and who took her scooter?

Steve Williams, of the private organization Milton Search and Rescue, reported finding Troy’s body to law enforcement on the night of Dec. 2, 2025. Williams told authorities an associate had informed him that a body was in the woods.

Investigators eventually determined Eddins had made the initial discovery.

At the scene, investigators found a scooter charger. The scooter was later located, and according to law enforcement, Eddins admitted taking it and later telling others about the body and scooter.

Eddins received 268 days of credit toward his jail sentence for time served while awaiting sentencing. He is currently incarcerated at Northwest Florida Reception Center Annex in Chipley.

According to state records, his release date from state prison is Dec. 1, 2029.

Eddins has served three previous state prison sentences, from 2001 to 2006, 2013 to 2014 and 2020 to 2021.

His first prison sentence stemmed from convictions for false imprisonment, home invasion and robbery. Other offenses that resulted in prison sentences included possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm, concealed weapon or ammunition by a felon.