A Florida man has been accused of killing his teenage girlfriend and leaving her body beside a road, authorities said.
Robert Anthony Timmons, 19, was arrested Monday by Pasco County deputies in connection with the death of 16-year-old Victoria Perez.
Investigators said Timmons allegedly shot Perez in the head after the pair argued Sunday, then abandoned her body.
He became a leading suspect after Perez’s family described their relationship as “toxic.”
Pasco Sheriff Jeff Harrington said Timmons initially denied knowing where Perez was but later acknowledged killing her.
According to investigators, Timmons picked Perez up at her apartment before the two began arguing inside his car.
He allegedly shot her during the altercation and drove her body to an area behind her apartment complex.
“He callously dumped the body 15 feet off the road, and then he left,” Harrington said.
Robert Anthony Timmons, 19, allegedly shot 16-year-old Victoria Perez (seen above) in her head with a gun after an argument, police said
Timmons (seen above) told the police that he picked up the girl in his car when they started fighting. He dumped her body near her apartment complex some 15 feet off the road, police said
Perez’s family reported her missing at about 7 p.m. Sunday, police said.
Authorities later released her photograph and appealed to the public for information that could help locate her.
At 11:24 a.m., deputies responded to a report of a deceased person in a wooded area of Spring Hill.
Investigators identified the body within several hours and confirmed it was Perez.
Harrington said Perez’s family believed Timmons may have been involved in her death.
“There were concerns about the nature of the relationship that he and this young woman had,” Harrington said.
“Family members had characterized it as tumultuous and toxic.”
The sheriff said Perez’s parents had been actively trying to help her leave the unhealthy relationship.
NEXT UP: Inside Zena k’Dor’s Lavish $100,000 40th Birthday Celebration
“They were trying to get help,” Harrington said.
“They were taking steps to try to insulate her from that type of relationship that she was in.”
Police have not disclosed what sparked the argument or how Timmons obtained the gun.
The family of the victim said that Perez and Timmons had a ‘toxic’ relationship
Authorities reviewed surveillance footage and determined that Perez had entered a vehicle belonging to Timmons.
The footage connected him to the killing, leading to his arrest.
Investigators said Timmons may have thrown the firearm into a nearby body of water.
“PSO deputies, in addition to PSO’s Dive & Underwater Recovery Team, continue to search for the firearm used during the incident,” police said.
Timmons was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and booked into the Pasco County Jail on Monday.
He appeared before Judge Mary Handsel for his initial court hearing Tuesday, Tampa Bay 28 reported.
When the judge asked how he was doing, Timmons replied, “Not the best.” He is scheduled to appear in person at another hearing Friday.
As Timmons attended court, Perez’s family gathered at Lake Lisa Park for a vigil in her memory.
Her mother, Vicky Concepcion, also created a fundraising page to help cover her daughter’s funeral expenses.
“Victoria Perez was my beautiful 16-year-old daughter, and her life was taken far too soon in a senseless act of violence,” Concepcion said.
“She had her whole future ahead of her, with so many dreams, milestones, and memories still waiting to be made. Losing Victoria has left me and our family heartbroken, and we are trying to face a pain no mother should ever have to endure.”
“Instead of planning for my daughter’s future, I am now faced with the heartbreaking responsibility of planning her funeral,” she added.
The family had raised $7,537 in donations so far.