PITTSBURGH – In the county of Mercer, a man is being suspected of murdering and dismembering a 14-year-old girl who has gone missing.
DaShawn Watkins is being charged with a variety of offenses, including criminal homicide, in connection with the death of Paul Likens Jr., who was 14 years old, according to a press statement issued by Pennsylvania State Police Troop D on Wednesday regarding the incident.
According to the press release, the Sharon Police Department received a report on June 25 regarding a woman who was 14 years old and had gone missing. During the later hours of that day, police enforcement was dispatched to Shenango Lake, which is located in Clark Borough, Mercer County. The lake was discovered to contain human bones that had been dismembered.
Following their assumption of control of the inquiry, state police stated that they discovered further dismembered bodies in the region surrounding the lake. According to the press announcement, the remains of the teenager were found. An injury to the head caused by sharp force was determined to be the cause of death by the coroner, and the manner of death was determined to be a homicide.
“Evaluation by a forensic pathologist indicates that the victim was dismembered by some type of cutting instrument,” according to the statement of the investigation. According to the findings of the investigation conducted by the State Police, the adolescent was present in the vicinity of Budd Street Public Park and the canoe launch located close to Budd Street on June 23 between the hours of 3 and 3:40 in the morning. It seemed as though the teenager was waiting for someone, according to the authorities.
According to the authorities, video surveillance was able to find a car that was in the vicinity at the time and trace it back to Riverwalk Apartments, where it was then followed to Watkins. In the press release, it was stated that Watkins had made many journeys out of his flat carrying several bags, including garbage bags. Moreover, blood was discovered in Watkins’ residence, according to the authorities.
Mercer County Jail is currently housing Watkins, who is from Sharon. Watkins informed authorities that he utilized a social networking app to meet up with someone who was characterized as being similar to the teen. However, sources tell CBSNEWS that law enforcement does not know the relationship between the two.
Get in touch with the Pennsylvania State Police if you have any information regarding the investigation.
