TikTok video of a news story leads to the arrest of a Florida murder suspect

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A murder suspect is finally behind bars after three and a half years on the run, thanks to a TikTok video from a Scripps News Tampa story and a good Samaritan.

Benjamin Williams, who is also known as “Bambi,” is charged with first-degree murder for the 2021 killing of 27-year-old Joana Peca and two counts of child abuse.

“Instead of getting a white dress for my daughter’s wedding, I wanted to find a white coffin to bury my daughter,” said Eleni Peca, mother of Joana Peca.

Authorities said Williams convinced Peca, his then-girlfriend, to meet him at a cemetery on July 31, 2021 so he could see his young son. Peca was sitting in her van holding the baby when Williams shot her multiple times in the face, killing her, authorities said.

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“I will always miss her smile. I will miss my daughter being around me, being with her children and playing with her children,” said Joana Peca.

Eleni Peca’s other son was in the back seat at the time of the shooting; None of the children were injured.

A $25,000 reward was offered for his arrest, and in 2022 he was the featured fugitive on the show “In Pursuit with John Walsh.”

Now, three years later, Peca’s family is getting justice.

“Three years and three months is too long. He was on the run, but he couldn’t hide anymore. All eyes were on him and now he is finally behind bars where he belongs,” Peca said.

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Recently, someone saw a TikTok video that featured Scripps News Tampa’s original coverage of the case and noticed the suspect, who had been living in Mexico. That person contacted St. Petersburg police, which led to Williams’ arrest.

Williams is being held without bail in the Pinellas County Jail.

This article was written by Ginny Reese for Scripps News Tampa.