The Pennsylvania State Police have arrested DaShawn Watkins, 29, accused of murdering and dismembering a transgender teenager. Watkins is charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of a transgender teen, Pauly Likens. The Sharon Police Department received a report on June 25 that Likens, 14, had been missing since June 22. That same day, state police found Likens’ dismembered remains in an area near Shenango River Lake.
A Pennsylvania community is in mourning after the body of a transgender teenager, 14-year-old Pauly Likens, was found dismembered at the end of Pride month. https://t.co/gzimlefti7
— ABC News (@ABC) July 9, 2024
From ABC News:
An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was ruled to be a sharp force trauma to the head, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Surveillance footage, social media records and cellular phone records found that Likens appeared “to be on the phone and waiting to meet someone near the canoe launch area,” state police said.
Officials say footage also captured Watkins making several trips out of his apartment carrying multiple bags, and driving to his apartment in the vehicle seen near the crime scene.
Multiple locations in Watkins’ apartment tested positive in a preliminary blood test, according to the Pennsylvania State Police.
The Erie-Times News reports police believe the two met on Grindr, the popular LGBTQ dating app.
Related: Four Teens Arrested In Beating, Mutilation Of Trans Teen
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Pauly’s family pay for funeral expenses.
Discover more from The Randy Report
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.