Following an aborted Amber Alert and the discovery of human remains, a Maryland mother was charged with the murder of her 3-year-old daughter.
Darrian Randle, 31, was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in the death of a minor under 13, and “other related criminal charges” in the presumed death of her daughter, 3-year-old Nola Dinkins, according to Maryland State Police.
Randle’s boyfriend, 44-year-old Cedrick Antoine Britten, was also arrested and charged with accessory to first and second-degree murder after the fact, as well as failure to report a child death.
Earlier Wednesday, New Castle County Police announced that the Amber Alert issued after Randle reported Nola missing had been canceled after it was discovered that she lied to police about her daughter’s alleged abduction.
In a press release announcing the arrests, Maryland State Police stated that the department became involved in the case after New Castle County police discovered Randle’s last known address was in North East, Maryland.
Maryland State Police then contacted Britten at that address, and their investigation led them to a vacant lot nearby.
Maryland State Police said investigators from their Homicide Unit discovered “human remains consistent with that of a young child” around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday. They are waiting for a positive identification from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore.
During a press conference on Wednesday, reported by Philadelphia Fox affiliate WTXF, Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo explained that Britten was in custody with the Maryland State Police, while Randle remains in custody with Delaware authorities on charges of false reporting, a felony. She’s expected to be extradited to Maryland.
Randle called police on Tuesday around 7:15 p.m. from Newark, Delaware, to report that her daughter had been abducted by a white couple while they were pulled over on the side of the road.
An Amber Alert was issued for Nola, and the New Castle County Division of Police Criminal Investigations Unit, along with the Maryland State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, began their search for her.
However, as the investigation continued, Maryland State Police stated that “[i]nformation gleaned throughout the investigation revealed the initial report provided by Randle was false.”
New Castle County police then cancelled the Amber Alert and homicide investigation.
The remains found have yet to be positively identified as Nola Dinkins.
