Folks in Maryland are left in shock following the arrest of 31-year-old Darrian Randle, a mother now facing multiple murder charges after reporting her young daughter missing under false pretenses.
Randle has been officially charged with first- and second-degree murder, child abuse resulting in the death of a minor under 13, and other related criminal offenses. The charges are linked to the suspected killing of her 3-year-old daughter, Nola Dinkins.
Alongside Randle, her boyfriend, Cedrick Antoine Britten, 44, was also arrested and charged as an accessory to murder after the fact and for failing to report the death of a child.
Authorities say the case took a dark turn after Randle falsely claimed that Nola had been abducted by a white couple during a roadside stop in Newark, Delaware. The claim triggered an Amber Alert and prompted a large-scale investigation involving local police, Maryland State Police, and the FBI.
On Wednesday morning, the New Castle County Police officially canceled the Amber Alert after uncovering evidence that Randle’s account was fabricated. According to officials, the mother misled law enforcement in her initial report, setting off what would become a chilling homicide probe.
Maryland State Police revealed that their involvement began when they traced Randle’s last known residence to North East, Maryland. Officers located Britten at that location and, following investigative leads, searched a nearby vacant lot.
Related Articles
Around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit discovered human remains they described as “consistent with that of a young child.” The remains are currently undergoing official identification by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.
During a press briefing, Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo explained that Britten is being held in Maryland, while Randle remains in custody in Delaware. She faces charges there for felony false reporting and is expected to be extradited to Maryland to face further prosecution.
The case has sparked outrage and sorrow across both states, as officials and community members grapple with the grim details of the investigation. Authorities are working to confirm whether the remains found are indeed those of little Nola Dinkins, though all evidence so far points in that direction.
Maryland officials stress the seriousness of the charges and have promised to pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.
Also Read: Ohio Woman Gets Life for Murder of Girlfriend’s 8-Year-Old son Found in Attic Trash Bag
