Teen Missing for Two Years from Florida Charged with Murder in North Carolina
DURHAM, N.C. — A Florida teenager who had been missing for more than two years has been found in North Carolina — and is now facing murder charges.
Authorities confirmed that Gracie Elizabeth Landa, 18, has been arrested and charged in connection with the killing of Christopher Piedrasanta-Perez, 23, who was shot to death in Durham earlier this year.
From Missing Teen to Murder Suspect
Landa disappeared from her Tampa, Florida home on June 27, 2023, when she was just 16. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children issued alerts at the time, saying she may have traveled to North Carolina.
Her disappearance remained unresolved until investigators linked her to a May 30 shooting that left Piedrasanta-Perez dead.
Details of the Shooting
According to court documents, Piedrasanta-Perez was in a car with two friends when two to three people approached and opened fire, unleashing more than 40 rounds.
Investigators say the confrontation stemmed from a dispute involving a planned fight between two young women over a romantic relationship.
Piedrasanta-Perez’s mother told local reporters her son had just parked his car after making DoorDash deliveries when the shooters emerged from the woods.
Remembering the Victim
Friends and family described Piedrasanta-Perez as “respectful, funny, caring, loving, hardworking.” An online fundraiser emphasized that he was the first grandchild in a large family and a beloved young man with a bright future.
Court Proceedings
Landa is being held without bond and is scheduled to return to court on September 11.
The case has drawn national attention, both because of her past as a missing child and the shocking turn that led her from a disappearance case to a homicide suspect.
Do you think more could have been done to prevent Gracie Landa’s case from taking such a tragic turn? Share your thoughts at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
