Pittsburgh-area man charged with killing, dismembering missing 14-year-old

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A man is accused of killing and dismembering a missing 14-year-old boy in Mercer County.

In a news release issued Wednesday by Pennsylvania State Police Troop D, DaShawn Watkins faces a list of charges, including criminal homicide, in connection with the killing of 14-year-old Paul Likens Jr.

The press release states that the Sharon Police Department received a report of a missing 14-year-old boy on June 25. Later that day, law enforcement was called to Shenango Lake in Clark Borough, Mercer County, and dismembered human remains were found in the water.

State police said they took over the investigation and found additional dismembered remains in the area surrounding the lake. The news release said they were the remains of the teenager. The coroner listed the cause of death as head trauma and the cause of death as homicide.

“A medical examiner's assessment indicates that the victim was dismembered by a sharp instrument,” the press release said.

State police said their investigation revealed the teen was in the area of ​​Budd Street Public Park and the canoe launch near Budd Street on June 23 between 3 a.m. and 3:40 a.m. The teen appeared to be waiting for someone, police said.

Authorities said video surveillance located a vehicle in the area at the time of the shooting and tracked it to the Riverwalk Apartments and then to Watkins. The news release said Watkins made several trips out of his apartment with several trash bags and trash bags. Blood was also found in Watkins' apartment, authorities said.

Watkins, of Sharon, is being held at the Mercer County Jail. Sources told KDKA-TV that law enforcement does not know the relationship between the two, but Watkins told police he used a social media app to meet an individual described as a match for the teen.

Anyone with information about the case can contact the Pennsylvania State Police.