A person from Pennsylvania is facing murder charges following the discovery of the dismembered body of a transgender girl, who was 14 years old.
According to a news statement from the Pennsylvania State Police, Pauly Likens was last seen on June 22. The following week, police reported finding “various dismembered human remains” scattered around Shenango Lake; these were ultimately determined to be Pauly’s. A coroner from Mercer County confirmed the identity of the victim.
Police said they caught DaShawn Watkins on surveillance footage on June 24th, and he was observed leaving and entering his apartment multiple times with various things, including a huge duffle bag. Watkins was subsequently detained. Watkins’ apartment, including beneath the floor of the bathroom, allegedly contained blood, according to the police.
According to court documents, Watkins faced charges including first-degree murder, aggravated assault, mistreatment of a corpse, and tampering with evidence. Whether he has a lawyer or has filed a plea is unclear at this time.
The victim’s mother informed Pam Ladner, who works with the LGBTQIA+ Alliance Shenango Valley, according to TribLive, WTAE, and WPXI.
While investigators have remained tight-lipped about whether they consider Pauly’s murder a hate crime, a statewide LGBTQ group known as the Pennsylvania Youth Congress has urged state and federal officials to investigate the possibility of hate crime charges against Watkins.
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Over $22,000 has been gathered through a GoFundMe that was launched by a friend of Pauly’s mother.
The organizer noted that Pauly has a “whole life ahead of her” at the tender age of fourteen. “No mother should ever have to bury her child, and unfortunately, the family was unprepared financially for the funeral costs because of her unanticipated passing.”
An internet obituary states that Pauly adored animals and was a dedicated gamer. Her two siblings and parents will carry on her legacy as per PEOPLE.
According to her obituary, “Pauly lit up every room she entered, always making people smile and passing around her contagious laughter.” Pauly was an altruistic person who would always lend a hand to those in need and donate what she could. She started giving her spare cash to the veterans’ kiosk outside Walmart when she was just a little girl.
