DaShawn Watkins charged with murder of 14-year-old Paul Likens Jr., whose remains were found at a Clark Borough, Pennsylvania, animal park

Patty Coller and Gerry Ricciutti

13 hours ago

SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) — Dismembered remains found in June at a Pennsylvania wildlife park have been identified as those of a missing teenager, and a man has been charged with homicide in connection with the case, according to Pennsylvania State Police (PSP).

DaShawn Watkins has been charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death of 14-year-old Paul Likens, Jr., according to PSP.

State police said Wednesday that Sharon police received a report on June 25 of a missing 14-year-old boy who had not been seen since June 22. That same day, Hermitage officers were dispatched to an area of ​​Shenango Lake in the Clark neighborhood where dismembered remains were found. At that time, the case was turned over to Pennsylvania State Police (PSP).

Over the next week, more dismembered remains were found at various locations around the lake, according to PSP. The Mercer County coroner confirmed the remains were those of Likens.

The coroner determined the cause of death to be blunt force head trauma and the manner of death to be homicide.

Information from Likens' phone, social media records and surveillance video indicated that the teen walked to the area of ​​the Budd Street Public Park and Boat Launch, near Budd Street and State Route 62 in Sharon, and stayed there for about 40 minutes on June 23. He then made a phone call and waited to meet someone near the canoe launch, police said.

Police said surveillance video identified a suspect vehicle and that same vehicle returned to the Riverwalk Apartments and showed a man, later identified as DaShawn Watkins, struggling to carry a large duffel bag. On June 24, Watkins made several trips out of his apartment carrying multiple bags and trash bags, police said.

“Preliminary positive tests for blood were found in multiple locations throughout Watkin's apartment, including under the bathroom floor,” police wrote in a news release.

Watkins was arrested Tuesday and charged with involuntary manslaughter. He is being held in the Mercer County Jail without bail.

Watkins will be in court on July 17.

No further details have been released at this time.