DaShawn Watkins, 29, has been arrested in connection with the death of 14-year-old Pauly Likens, who was reportedly dismembered by "some type of cutting instrument." The crime has been linked to a popular LGBTQ dating app, Grindr.
A Pennsylvania man has been charged with murder and other offenses in the brutal dismemberment of a 14-year-old transgender teen after allegedly meeting the victim on a popular LGBTQ dating app, Grindr.
DaShawn Watkins, 29, of Sharon, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged after police discovered human remains near Shenango River Lake in Clark Borough, Pennsylvania. The remains were later identified as those of Pauly Likens, who was reported missing by a family member on June 25.
Pennsylvania Man Charged in Brutal Dismemberment of Transgender Teen
According to a criminal complaint filed with the Mercer Police Department, Likens was last seen on June 22 and had allegedly gone to stay the night with an unknown friend. The document states that Likens' father contacted police after no one had heard from him since the early morning hours of June 23.
Surveillance footage, social media records, and cellphone records linked Watkins to the scene of the horrific murder, according to the criminal complaint. He has been charged with murder, aggravated assault, evidence tampering, and abuse of a corpse.
Pennsylvania Man Charged in Brutal Dismemberment of Transgender Teen
The complaint alleges that Watkins met Likens on Grindr, and the two agreed to meet up. The Mercer County coroner later confirmed that the various dismembered human remains found over the next week belonged to Likens. A forensic pathologist determined that the teen was dismembered by "some type of cutting instrument" and died from sharp force trauma to the head, ruling the manner of death a homicide.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has expressed support for Likens' family and advocated for state laws "to treat hate-based crimes against LGBTQ+ folks the same way other hate crimes are treated."
Pennsylvania Man Charged in Brutal Dismemberment of Transgender Teen
"The First Lady and I are thinking of Pauly Likens' friends, family, and our entire LGBTQ+ community right now," Shapiro wrote in a social media post. "Pennsylvania State Police’s investigation is ongoing, and her horrific murder must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Watkins is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 25. Fox News Digital has reached out to Gov. Josh Shapiro's office and the Pennsylvania State Police for comment, but there has been no response at this time.
The brutal murder of Pauly Likens has sent shockwaves through the community and has highlighted the need for increased protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Advocates are calling for increased hate crime legislation and other measures to address the disproportionate violence faced by this vulnerable population.
