A 41-year-old man from Florida, who had been on the run for years after allegedly killing his estranged girlfriend while she held their baby in her arms, has been caught thanks to a TikTok video. Benjamin Williams, also known as “Bambi,” was arrested in Mexico after a viewer recognized him in a true crime post and tipped off authorities. Williams now faces charges of first-degree murder and two counts of felony child abuse.
The tragic incident happened on July 31, 2021, near the Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida. Williams is accused of shooting 27-year-old Joana Peca multiple times, including in the face, while she sat in her car holding their infant. Peca’s older child, just 4 years old, was in the back seat and witnessed the horrifying scene. Investigators say Peca died inside the vehicle as her children, scared and helpless, were left in shock when officers arrived.
According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, a major break in the case came from a TikTok video. Someone in Mexico saw the clip and called the police with a tip about Williams’ whereabouts. Detectives contacted the U.S. Marshals Service, and they quickly moved to arrest him. Over the holiday weekend, a detective and deputy drove to Miami to transfer Williams to the Pinellas County Jail, where he is now being held without bond.
At a press conference, Joana’s mother, Eleni Peca, expressed her relief and gratitude to law enforcement for finally capturing the man accused of killing her daughter. “Starting today, Benjamin Williams’ freedom is over,” she said. “He’s not going to see daylight again. He’s behind bars where he belongs.”
Authorities believe the murder was premeditated. Police Chief Anthony Holloway explained that Williams lured Joana to the cemetery under the pretense of meeting their kids. “He called her and asked her to meet him at that location because she was bringing the children to see him,” Holloway said. “Once they got there, he decided to gun her down.”
The shocking nature of the crime left Chief Holloway nearly speechless back in 2021. “Williams goes up to his girlfriend, who is holding his baby, and he shoots her several times,” Holloway said. “I don’t know what it takes for a person to do that.”
The capture of Williams brings some measure of peace to Joana’s family. “Thanks to the dedication of St. Petersburg detectives and the support of the U.S. Marshals and ATF, a dangerous criminal has been caught,” Holloway said in a statement. “While nothing can bring back a beloved daughter and mother, we hope this brings her family some long-overdue closure.”
Williams now awaits justice in Pinellas County Jail as Joana’s loved ones continue to grieve the loss of a young mother whose life was taken far too soon.
