Missing transgender teen’s body found dismembered; suspect charged
Body parts of Pauly Likens, 14, were found in the Shenango River Lake, a reservoir of western Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio.
Pennsylvania authorities confirmed that dismembered human remains found late last month are those of a transgender teenager who had been reported missing.
The Mercer County Coroner’s Office and Pennsylvania State Police confirmed last week that body parts found June 25 in Shenango River Lake, a reservoir in western Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio, were those of Pauly Likens Jr., 14.
Pauly Likens Jr.Family photoLikens was last seen early June 23 at a public park in her hometown, Sharon, Pennsylvania, about 15 miles east of Youngstown, Ohio, police said. She was reported missing two days later, the same day unidentified human remains were discovered nearby.
The coroner’s office identified the remains as those of Likens on Wednesday. Police said that the cause of death was “sharp force trauma to the head” and that her body had been dismembered by “some type of cutting instrument.”
DaShawn Watkins, 29, was arrested last week in connection with Likens’ death and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault, abuse of a corpse and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, according to court documents. Watkins could face the death penalty or life in prison if he is found guilty.
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