A Pennsylvania man has been charged with the gruesome killing and dismemberment of a 14-year-old boy from Mercer County. DaShawn Watkins, 29, of Sharon, faces multiple charges including first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse after the teen, Paul Likens Jr., was reported missing and later found in pieces around Shenango Lake. The investigation, led by Pennsylvania State Police, pieced together a timeline suggesting the teen was last seen near Budd Street Public Park in the early hours of last Sunday, with evidence indicating he was possibly waiting for someone, as reported by TribLIVE.
The case took a major turn when surveillance footage linked a vehicle near the park and subsequent areas where the remains were discovered back to the Riverwalk Apartments where Watkins resided, Watkins was observed in video surveillance struggling to carry a large duffel bag and making several trips out of the building with what appeared to be multiple duffel and garbage bags, according to details released by State Police. Further examination of Watkins' apartment uncovered blood in several locations, including under the bathroom flooring, hinting at the horrific acts that were committed therein, as detailed by WTAE.
The Mercer County Coroner's Office has declared the manner of death to be homicide, with sharp force trauma to the head cited as the cause. Over a week, authorities found multiple human remains around the lake area. These findings were correlated with the missing persons report filed for Likens on June 25, matching the dismembered body parts to the young victim. The tragic end to the search for the missing teen adds another layer of darkness to this deeply disturbing story.
However, the motives behind the killing and the exact nature of the relationship between Watkins and Likens have yet to be fully disclosed. Watkins reportedly used a social media app to arrange a meet-up with an individual matching the teen's description, it is unclear, however, if the deceased Pauly Likens was the same individual Watkins claimed to have met. Watkins remains in custody at the Mercer Felony County Jail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 17, where further details of this grim case may come to light, according to TribLIVE.
