A Florida teen who disappeared two years ago has finally been found, after she was charged with murder in North Carolina.
Gracie Elizabeth Faye Landa, 18, is accused of killing Christopher Piedrasanta-Perez, 23, of Durham on May 30, according to the arrest warrant cited by The News & Observer.
Landa was reported missing from her Florida home on June 27, 2023, according to CBS 17. At the time she disappeared, Landa was 16. But, authorities at the time believed that she might have been headed to Durham, North Carolina.
Now, authorities believe that the previously missing teen is responsible for a murder.
The News & Observer reported that Piedrasanta-Perez was one of three people shot inside a vehicle around 12:30 a.m., May 30. The newspaper reported that while Piedrasanta-Perez sat in the vehicle with his two friends, two or three people approached and fired numerous rounds into the vehicle.
The newspaper stated that 40 shell casings were recovered at the scene and that the rounds were a mix of 9 mm and .223 rifle casings. In one of the 911 calls placed regarding the incident, a woman said she was in the car and had been hit 10 times by gunfire.
The News & Observer quoted a search warrant as stating that Piedrasanta-Perez and the two women were there because one of their friends planned to fight another girl.
"With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, I share the unexpected passing of our beloved Christopher. He was only 23 years old, had a whole life ahead of him. He was the first baby of the family, first grandchild out of 10," states a GoFundMe page set up by the family.
"Our family is devastated by this loss. As we grieve, we are doing our best to come together to honor his memory and support one another through this difficult time," the page states. "Nobody is truly ever prepared for an unexpected loss. With that said the family and me have took it upon ourselves to handle funeral arrangements. Any donation, no matter the amount, is deeply appreciated."
Last year, The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) made a post on X highlighting the fact that Landa still was missing. However, The News & Observer stated that a search of the site's database now does not turn up anything on Landa.
CBS 17 reported that Landa made her first court appearance in the case last week and is being held without bond. Her next appearance is set for September.
