Police in St. Petersburg, Florida, said a man who shot and killed his estranged girlfriend in a cemetery in front of her two children in 2021 was arrested in Mexico after a TikTok video reported his whereabouts.
St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway announced that Benjamin Robert Williams, also known as “Bambi,” has been booked into the Pinellas County Jail three and a half years after the manhunt.
Police said the 41-year-old suspect was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse.
“Thanks to the dedication of St. Petersburg police detectives and the invaluable assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and ATF, we were able to apprehend a dangerous criminal and bring justice to the victim’s family,” Holloway said. “While we cannot give the life of a beloved daughter and mother back to our two young children, we hope this can provide them with some long-awaited peace and closure.”
Florida police identify boyfriend as suspect in shooting of mother killed in front of her two children
Benjamin Robert Williams was arrested in Mexico nearly three and a half years after he shot and killed his estranged girlfriend in Florida while she was holding their young child. (St. Petersburg Police)
Police say Williams convinced his estranged girlfriend, Joanna Peca, to meet him at a cemetery on North 60th Street in St. Petersburg on July 31, 2021, so he could see his young son.
When she arrived, Peca was sitting in the van holding the baby. Police said Williams shot Peca multiple times in the face, killing him. Peka’s other child was in the backseat of the vehicle at the time of the shooting, and neither child suffered physical harm.
Police responded to the scene around 5:30 p.m. that evening and found Peca dead in the car, department spokeswoman Sandra Bentil told Fox News.
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Benjamin Robert Williams was arrested in Mexico nearly three and a half years after he shot and killed his estranged girlfriend in Florida while she was holding their young child. This is Williams taken in 2021. (St. Petersburg Police)
After the incident, police obtained an arrest warrant for Williams. Investigators from multiple agencies were also offering a reward of up to $25,000 for any information leading to his arrest.
Williams also appeared on the show “In Pursuit with John Walsh” in 2022, but Williams remained loose.
But last week I saw a TikTok post where someone shared local news about the shooting. Above the video, the phrase ‘Investigation into man who killed girlfriend while holding 4-month-old baby’ was posted.
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A TikTok video helped arrest Benjamin Robert Williams after viewers contacted St. Petersburg police and told them he was living in Mexico. (Jaque Silva/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
After watching the video, they contacted the St. Petersburg Police Department and received a tip that Williams was living in Mexico.
Investigators contacted the U.S. Marshals Service and were able to detain Williams and return him to the United States.
He was arrested in Miami and taken to the Pinellas County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
TikTok did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter.
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Jail records show Williams has been arrested about 40 times in Pinellas County since 2007. He has previously been charged with drug possession, tampering with evidence, aggravated battery, armed robbery, theft and resisting arrest.
