DaShawn Watkins (Pennsylvania State Police), Pauly Likens Jr. (GoFundMe) and the area where her dismembered remains were discovered (WFMJ screenshot)
A 29-year-old man in Pennsylvania has been arrested for allegedly killing and dismembering a 14-year-old who had been missing since late June.
DaShawn Watkins was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with one count each of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence in the slaying of young Pauly A. Likens, Jr., records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police, officers with the Hermitage Police Department on June 25 responded to a call regarding possible human remains being found in the Shengano River Lake in Clark Borough, which is about 75 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said they recovered human remains that were at least partially submerged in the lake water. Local police requested the assistance of Pennsylvania State Police and PSP detectives took control of the investigation. Mercer County Coroner John A. Libonati on July 3 confirmed that the remains recovered from Shengano River Lake belonged to Pauly.
A forensic pathologist with the coroner’s office performed an autopsy and determined that Pauly’s manner of death was a homicide and her cause of death was sharp force trauma to the head. Additionally, evidence indicated that Pauly was dismembered with a “cutting instrument.”
The Sharon Herald reported that additional remains continued to be recovered from multiple different areas around the lake for a week following the initial discovery. State police investigators on June 27, were reportedly observed using an underwater drone
A copy of the criminal complaint obtained by Youngstown, Ohio, NBC affiliate WFMJ provided additional details about the circumstances of Pauly’s disappearance and death.
According to the report, Pauly was last seen in person by a juvenile friend at about 9:30 p.m. on the evening of June 22. She had told her father that she was spending the night at a friend’s house.
Pauly’s family reported her missing after not hearing from her, telling officers with the Sharon Police Department that it was the first time Pauly had stayed away from home without contacting her family.
Pauly’s friend on June 26 told investigators that Pauly left her home at about 9:30 p.m. and said she was walking home. However, when the friend saw that Pauly had posted to social media about being on a late-night walk at about 2:30 a.m., the friend said she messaged Pauly to make sure she was OK. Pauly reportedly sent one response to the friend saying that she was fine. Additional messages were not answered.
Investigators used Pauly’s phone records to place her in the area of Budd Street Public Park and Canoe Launch at 3 a.m. Surveillance video confirmed that she was there and appeared to be waiting for someone, Pittsburgh NBC affiliate WPXI reported.
Video from surrounding businesses helped police identify a vehicle that stopped in the area where Pauly had been walking before heading back to the Riverwalk Apartments. Police said the car was being driven by Watkins.
Surveillance footage from the apartment complex reportedly showed Watkins leaving his apartment multiple times carrying “multiple bags and garbage bags.” At least once he can reportedly be seen struggling to carry a large duffle bag.
When questioned, Watkins told police that the bag he was carrying in the footage was just luggage he had left in his car from a recent vacation, WPXI reported. Additionally, Watkins said that he had used the dating app Grindr to meet up with someone and they engaged in some form of sexual contact.
Authorities on July 2 executed a search warrant on Watkins’ home where they reportedly found blood present in multiple locations, including the area beneath the bathroom floor lining. A receipt showed that Watkins on June 23 purchased an electric saw with exchangeable blades that was recovered from the home with blade missing.
Pauly’s aunt, Liz Morsillo, told WPXI that Pauly was “just amazing,” and called her tragic murder “unfathomable.”
“Only an absolute monster could do something like that to anyone, let alone a child,” she told the station. “I hope he gets what he deserves.”
Watkins is currently being held at the Mercer County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. on July 17.
Pauly’s mother gave the LGBTQIA+ Alliance Shenango Valley permission to share that Pauly was a transgender female, Pittsburgh ABC affiliate WTAE reported. A GoFundMe page to help the family with funeral and memorial expenses can be found here.
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