Social media breakthrough leads to arrest in tragic St. Petersburg murder

In a remarkable turn of events, a three-year-old TikTok video has played a crucial role in capturing Benjamin Robert “Bambi” Williams, the suspect accused of the murder of his ex-girlfriend Joana Peca in front of her young children in July 2021.

Joana Peca, 27, was shot in the face while sitting in her van at a St. Petersburg cemetery, with her four-month-old son in her arms and her four-year-old son witnessing the horrific crime. The victim’s mother, Eleni Peca, described the moment she learned of the arrest as a combination of “happiness and pain.”

The path to capture

Williams, 41, had been on the run since the shooting, becoming St. Petersburg’s most wanted criminal. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement, including a $25,000 reward and features on true-crime shows, the suspect remained at large until a breakthrough came from an unexpected source.

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Social media’s pivotal role

On November 27, a person in Mexico came across a TikTok video about the case and alerted the U.S. Embassy and Crime Stoppers, revealing that Williams was residing in Mexico City, according to authorities.

The video, shared around 10 days after the shooting by TikTok influencer Jasmeen Alexander, whose true-crime account now boasts over 2.8 million followers, featured a Florida news channel’s coverage of the killing and the search for the suspect. It has been shared hundreds of times.

Arrest and extradition

Authorities found Williams living under a fake name in Mexico City, close to being homeless. He was extradited to the United States and now faces charges of first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse.

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A family’s quest for justice

St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway addressed the victim’s family directly, acknowledging that while nothing can replace their loss, the arrest brings a measure of closure. “A dangerous criminal no longer poses a threat to the community,” Holloway stated.

The case highlights the evolving role of social media in solving cold cases. TikTok influencer Alexander noted the “crazy power of social media,” emphasizing how a three-year-old video can potentially break a case years after its initial posting.

Emotional aftermath

The most heart-wrenching aspect of the case remains the impact on the victim’s children. The four-year-old son’s desperate attempt to save his mother – telling his grandmother, “I tried to clean the blood on her face, but my hands were too small” – underscores the profound trauma of the incident.

As Williams sits in Pinellas County Jail without bond, the Peca family hopes this arrest will bring some semblance of justice for Joana and her children.