Florida man accused of murder captured after TikTok reveals his whereabouts

A Florida man charged with murder was caught after a TikTok video led to a viewer tipping off police to the man’s whereabouts.

In 2021, Benjamin Robert Williams is said to have shot his ex-girlfriend in a cemetery in front of her two children.

The man fled immediately and the St. Petersberg police searched for him for three and a half years without success.

That is, until a video of a local news story was shared on TikTok – prompting a viewer to alert police that Williams lived in Mexico.

TikTok helps police find suspected murderer

As Fox News reported, a TikTok post in late November featured a story about the shooting with the caption: “Manhunt for man who killed his girlfriend while holding their 4-month-old baby.”

After seeing the clip, a viewer contacted St. Petersburg police and told them that Williams lived in Mexico. From there, investigators contacted the U.S. Marshals Service, who were able to take the man into custody and bring him back into the country.

Williams was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse.

St. Petersberg Police

“Thanks to the dedication of St. Petersburg police officers and the invaluable assistance of the U.S. Marshals and ATF, a dangerous criminal was captured and justice was brought to the victim’s family,” said St. Petersberg Police Chief Anthony Hollaway.

“While nothing can restore the life of a beloved daughter and mother of two young children, we hope this provides them long overdue peace and closure.”

It’s also not the first time TikTok has helped arrest a suspected murderer. Back in October, TikToker Mr. Prada was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for his alleged connection to the death of 69-year-old William Nicholas Abraham.

Viewers of the short-video app identified Mr Prada as the person driving Abraham’s stolen car after surveillance photos of him went viral.