An 18-year-old woman who was reported missing from her Tampa, Florida, home over two years ago has been arrested and charged with the murder of a 23-year-old man in North Carolina.
According to a warrant, Gracie Elizabeth Faye Landa is accused of murder in the death of Christopher Piedrasanta-Perez on May 30 in Durham.
Landa was reported missing from Tampa in June 2023 and was featured by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. About a year after her disappearance, authorities said they thought she was in the Durham area.
Fast forward to around 12:30 a.m. on May 30, this year. According to the Raleigh News & Observer, Piedrasanta-Perez and two other women were sitting in their car near a local park when two or three people approached them and began shooting. The gunfire struck Piedrasanta-Perez in the head, killing him.
Investigators reportedly recovered approximately 40 casings from two different caliber weapons. On Monday, the police arrested Landa. They have not stated how they linked Landa to the killing, nor have they announced any additional arrests in the case or the reason for the shooting.
A GoFundMe page described Piedrasanta-Perez as a “kind soul, respectful, funny, caring, loving, and hardworking.”
“His presence brought light and comfort to the family, had a sense of humor like no other, and now his absence has left a hole in our hearts,” according to the posting. “Our family is devastated by the loss. As we grieve, we are doing our best to band together to honour his memory and support one another during this difficult time. Nobody can truly prepare for an unexpected loss.”
Landa remains in the Durham County Jail without bond. She has a court date scheduled for September 11.
