PITTSBURGH – In Mercer County, a man is suspected of murdering and dismembering a 14-year-old girl who went missing.
According to a news release issued Wednesday by Pennsylvania State Police Troop D, DaShawn Watkins is facing a number of charges, including criminal homicide, in connection with the death of 14-year-old Paul Likens Jr.
According to the news release, the Sharon Police Department received a report of a missing 14-year-old on June 25. Later that day, law officers responded to Shenango Lake in Clark Borough, Mercer County, where dismembered human remains were discovered.
State police said they took over the investigation and discovered other dismembered corpses near the lake. According to the news announcement, the remains belonged to the teenager. The coroner determined that the cause of death was sharp force trauma to the head, and the manner of death was homicide.
“Evaluation by a forensic pathologist indicates that the victim was dismembered by some type of cutting instrument,” according to the press release. According to State Police, the teen was in the area of Budd Street Public Park, and the canoe launch at Budd Street between 3 and 3:40 a.m. on June 23. Police claimed the teenager appeared to be waiting for someone.
Authorities claimed video surveillance detected a car in the neighborhood at the time and tracked it back to Riverwalk Apartments and then to Watkins. According to the news release, Watkins made several trips out of his unit carrying various bags and rubbish bags. Watkins’ flat also had blood, according to officials.
Watkins, of Sharon, is in the Mercer County Jail. According to CBSNEWS, law enforcement is unaware of the two’s relationship, but Watkins told authorities he utilized a social networking app to meet with someone who matched the teen’s description.
Anyone with information on the case can contact the Pennsylvania State Police.