A Pennsylvania man has been charged with first-degree murder Tuesday in connection to the gruesome killing and mutilation of a missing 14-year-old girl.
DaShawn Watkins, 29, was arrested following the June 25 discovery of human remains in the Shengano River Lake.
On July 3, the Mercer County Coroner’s Office identified the remains as 14-year-old Pauly A. Likens Jr. and determined her cause of death as sharp force trauma to the head.
The coroner also determined that Pauly’s body was mutilated with a “cutting instrument.”
Additional human remains continued to be located in and around the lake for at least a week.
The girl was last seen alive at around 9:30 p.m. on June 22 by a juvenile friend and had informed her dad that she would spend the night at that friend’s home.
The friend told investigators Pauly did not spend the night at her house but left at around 9:30 p.m., telling her she was returning home.
At about 2:30 a.m., the friend noticed a social media post from Pauly who appeared to be on a late-night walk.
The friend texted Pauly to ask if she was OK, and she replied that she was fine; the following messages went unanswered.
Surveillance footage caught Watkins picking up the teen at around 3 a.m. in the area of Budd Street Public Park and Canoe Launch.
The suspect was also caught leaving his apartment multiple times with “multiple bags and garbage bags,” and struggling to carry at least one large duffle bag.
A search of Watkins’ residence revealed blood and an electric saw with a missing blade.
“Only an absolute monster could do something like that to anyone, let alone a child,” Pauly’s aunt said. “I hope he gets what he deserves.”
