A Florida man who allegedly murdered his ex-girlfriend was apprehended by law enforcement after a TikTok video he posted betrayed his location, officials said.
In July of 2021, 41-year-old Benjamin Robert Williams allegedly shot and killed his ex-girlfriend, Joana Peca, in front of her two children after requesting that Peca meet him at a cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida, so that he could see his child, reported Fox News.
Williams then allegedly shot Peca in the face multiple times as she sat inside of her van holding their infant son, killing her, police said. Her other child had been in the backseat of the vehicle at the time. Neither child was injured.
Despite police obtaining an arrest warrant for Williams and offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his arrest, Williams was able to evade authorities for years. That was until last week, when a TikTok post shared Peca's story with the caption, "Manhunt for man who killed girlfriend while holding her 4-month-old baby."
St. Petersburg Police Department was later contacted by a TikTok user who gave them a tip that Williams was in Mexico. He was located and arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service, and returned to the U.S., according to the police department.
Williams was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse. He was denied bond and is in custody at the Pinellas County Jail.
"Thanks to the dedication of St. Petersburg Police detectives and the invaluable support of the U.S. Marshals and the ATF, a dangerous criminal was captured, bringing justice to the victim's family," Police Chief Anthony Holloway said in a statement. "While nothing can restore the life of a beloved daughter and mother to two young children, we hope this offers them some long-overdue peace and closure."
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