NOLA DINKINS: Delaware vs. Darrian Randle for 2025 murder & abuse of 2-year-old daughter *TRIAL IN PROGRESS*

Amber Alert case in Delaware now a homicide investigation after mom gave false report: police

Investigators say the mother gave police false statements about the alleged abduction.

6abc.com

Amber Alert case in Delaware now a homicide investigation after mom gave false report: police​

Police are now conducting a homicide investigation after an Amber Alert was issued for a 3-year-old girl on Tuesday in New Castle County, Delaware.

Police announced on Wednesday that the Amber Alert has been canceled after investigators say the mother gave police false statements about the alleged abduction.

New Castle County police say police in Maryland are now leading the investigation, although it is unclear at this time why. The FBI was also assisting with the case.

Police say the girl's mother told them that her 3-year-old daughter, Nola Dinkins, was taken by a man at gunpoint along the 500 block of Gender Road around 7:16 p.m. in Newark, Delaware.

The mother allegedly told police that Nola was upset, so she pulled over to the side of the road and that's when the mom said the little girl was abducted by a man with a gun.

Police have been searching the area where the mother reported the false abduction, as well as near the Liberty Pointe Apartments.

Delaware girl reported missing now treated as MD homicide; abduction no longer believed

Detectives no longer believe Nola Dinkins was abducted, as her mother initially claimed, police said. The Amber Alert has also been canceled.

www.delawareonline.com

Delaware girl reported missing now treated as MD homicide; abduction no longer believed​

A 3-year-old girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert issued the night of June 10 is still missing, though police no longer believe she was abducted, as her mother initially claimed.

The alert for the child, Nola Dinkins, has been canceled, police said.

In a brief news conference held on June 11, New Castle County Police said this was not an abduction and this is being treated as a homicide investigation by Maryland State Police.

The FBI is also investigating.

“The Amber alert is now canceled and there’s no danger to the public,” Botterbusch said. “Sadly, this incident is now being treated as a homicide investigation.”

 

[GrandmaBear]

Not another one. It just never ends. Poor baby.

 

[Takeitfromme]

just heard....... i can not believe how common this is...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Maryland mother charged with murdering 3-year-old daughter after false Delaware Amber Alert

Darrian Randle and her boyfriend have been charged in the death of her 3-year-old daughter, Nola Dinkins, who went missing Tuesday night.

www.cbsnews.com

Maryland mother charged with murdering 3-year-old daughter after false Delaware Amber Alert​

A mother has been charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday in the death of her 3-year-old daughter, who went missing after a false Amber Alert in Newark, Delaware, Maryland State Police said.

Darrian Randle, 33, and her boyfriend, Cedrick Britten, 44, were both charged in connection with the death of 3-year-old Nola Dinkins.

Maryland State Police said Randle has been charged with first and second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in the death of a minor under 13 and other related offenses. Britten was charged with accessory to first- and second-degree murder, failure to report a child death and other charges, according to Maryland State Police.

At about 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Maryland State Police said investigators found human remains in a vacant lot in North East, Maryland, amid the search for Dinkins.

Elena Russo, the spokesperson for Maryland State Police, said the human remains found "looked to be of a child," but they're still waiting to identify them and learn the cause and manner of death.

Russo said Maryland State Police will likely have an update on Thursday on the autopsy of the human remains.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Smh. Well she's charged with a lot, hope she gets slammed with every bit of it. In the meantime, yet another child was abused, uncared for and dead.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mother confessed to beating daughter, leaving body in a suitcase overnight, court docs say

Police in Newark, Delaware issued an Amber Alert after Darrian Randle reported that an armed man had kidnapped her daughter.

www.wmar2news.com

Mother confessed to beating daughter, leaving body in a suitcase overnight, court docs say​

Maryland State Police went to the child's home in North East, "to ensure that the child was not mistakenly left at home and to make contact with anyone at the residence to corroborate her story."

Randle's boyfriend, Cedrick Britten answered the door at the home and, when asked, showed security camera footage of the day Nola was reported missing.

The footage showed Randle getting into the car, but not Nola.

"[Nola] was never observed on camera," writes law enforcement in court documents.

Troopers were allowed to search the home, but asked to put on "booties" to "keep the house clean."

The toddler was not in the house, but one Corporal with the Maryland State Police did note that he smelled bleach.

Police detectives then asked to search the Britten's BMW, which they were permitted to do.

They found a pink and white blanket with a smear that looked like blood.

During an interview with the mother, Randle confessed that the kidnapping story wasn't true and to having hit Dinkins with a belt 15-20 times on Monday.

After striking her with the belt, the toddler fell to the ground and wasn't moving or breathing.

Britten attempted CPR on the child, but realized that she was dead.

They then drove around with the girl's body in the trunk of the car, but came back to the home.

Randle said they put her body into a blue suitcase and left her on the stairs to the basement overnight.

During an interview with police, Britten indicated where he believed Randle had left the body.

A body found in North East on Wednesday was "consistent with an emaciated child and [was] completely wrapped in saran wrap." Maryland State Police are still awaiting identification on the body.

The remains had been found inside a suitcase.

Randle is currently awaiting extradition to Maryland, and Britten is in custody in Maryland facing charges of accessory to murder.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Mother confessed to beating daughter, leaving body in a suitcase overnight, court docs say

Police in Newark, Delaware issued an Amber Alert after Darrian Randle reported that an armed man had kidnapped her daughter.

www.wmar2news.com

Mother confessed to beating daughter, leaving body in a suitcase overnight, court docs say​

Maryland State Police went to the child's home in North East, "to ensure that the child was not mistakenly left at home and to make contact with anyone at the residence to corroborate her story."

Randle's boyfriend, Cedrick Britten answered the door at the home and, when asked, showed security camera footage of the day Nola was reported missing.

The footage showed Randle getting into the car, but not Nola.

"[Nola] was never observed on camera," writes law enforcement in court documents.

Troopers were allowed to search the home, but asked to put on "booties" to "keep the house clean."

The toddler was not in the house, but one Corporal with the Maryland State Police did note that he smelled bleach.

Police detectives then asked to search the Britten's BMW, which they were permitted to do.

They found a pink and white blanket with a smear that looked like blood.

During an interview with the mother, Randle confessed that the kidnapping story wasn't true and to having hit Dinkins with a belt 15-20 times on Monday.

After striking her with the belt, the toddler fell to the ground and wasn't moving or breathing.

Britten attempted CPR on the child, but realized that she was dead.

They then drove around with the girl's body in the trunk of the car, but came back to the home.

Randle said they put her body into a blue suitcase and left her on the stairs to the basement overnight.

During an interview with police, Britten indicated where he believed Randle had left the body.

A body found in North East on Wednesday was "consistent with an emaciated child and [was] completely wrapped in saran wrap." Maryland State Police are still awaiting identification on the body.

The remains had been found inside a suitcase.

Randle is currently awaiting extradition to Maryland, and Britten is in custody in Maryland facing charges of accessory to murder.

This is what always happens. I go into a case over a missing child and then end up in the awful details of what really happened. I need to learn! But it's had not to care when they start out as missing. Anytime really but the details usually come later and by then one is in it. She was TWO for God's sakes.

Interesting the things about keeping the home clean and putting booties on or whatever.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Indiana grandma mourns toddler's death as mother faces murder charges in Maryland: 'Heartbroken'

Darrian Randle allegedly told police that when her daughter, Nola Dinkins, stopped moving, she put her daughter's body in a suitcase.

abc7chicago.com

Indiana grandma mourns toddler's death as mother faces murder charges in Maryland: 'Heartbroken'​

From her home in Indianapolis, Velma Dinkins shared stories of her granddaughter Nola Dinkins.

She lovingly called her "Nola bear."

"She captured everybody's heart. From the moment you saw her, you fell in love with her. She was special. She could be funny and she could be dramatic," said Velma Dinkins, the child's paternal grandmother.

"Everyone loved her. We are just heartbroken. We have so many questions, but all of that is going to come in due time," Dinkins said.


Court documents from Indiana detail a custody battle between Randle and Nola's biological father.

Records show he tried to stop Randle from taking their daughter out of Indiana.

"My son is well-loved. He is going to get what he needs, and we are going to get the justice that we need, and we are going to get the closure. Because he will never be alone," Dinkins said.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Never fails to shock me but all too common that one parent that has no real interest in the child and ends up killing them fights for that child for custody though. Control, child support, who knows. We see it over and over, it is usually men, this one isn't. SEEMS pretty clear which parent should have had custody. Yet she fought the other for it. Smdh.

Looks like a little sweetie with her entire life robbed from her.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Cecil County community holds emotional vigil for 3-year-old Nola Dinkins, remembering child lost to tragedy

Through tears and pain, community members came together to ensure the young girl would not be forgotten after her tragic death. Nola's mother has been charged with her murder.

www.wmar2news.com

Cecil County community holds emotional vigil for 3-year-old Nola Dinkins, remembering child lost to tragedy​

Dozens of Cecil County residents gathered Monday night to honor the life of 3-year-old Nola Dinkins, who was found dead in a vacant lot in the county.

Through tears and pain, community members came together to ensure the young girl would not be forgotten after her tragic death. Nola's mother has been charged with her murder.

"It's our way of being able to help her hear us that there is love here for her. This community does come together in tragedy," said Mary Jane Taylor, who helped organize the vigil.

Taylor wanted to ensure Nola wouldn't fade from memory after the initial shock of the tragedy.

"Now that everybody has the juicy details of the sad tragic stuff that happened, what happens to this sweet baby girl Nola that gets forgotten and can't speak for herself?" Taylor said.


While Nola's family couldn't attend, they sent statements to be read at the event. Her father wrote, "Nola, my one and only child, has an infectious energy that connected with everyone she met, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew her. As her father, that meant everything to me."


Nola's mother, Darian Randle, is awaiting extradition to Maryland. Her boyfriend, Cedric Britten, who is charged in connection with the crime, was released to home detention.

 

[GrandmaBear]

So he is OUT?

This poor child. So many again lately.

 

[Kimster]

She was so cute. Poor little baby.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

More charges for Cecil County man, whose girlfriend lied about murdered daughter's kidnapping

Prosecutors have upped charges against the boyfriend of a mother who confessed to murdering her three-year-old daughter.

www.wmar2news.com

More charges for Cecil County man, whose girlfriend lied about murdered daughter's kidnapping​

Prosecutors have upped charges against the boyfriend of a mother who confessed to murdering her three-year-old daughter.

Cedric Antoine Britten initially faced accessory counts related to the murder of Nola Dinkins.

But now a superseding indictment accuses Britten of first-degree child abuse resulting in death, which significantly raises the potential punishment if convicted.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mother accused of killing toddler, hiding body extradited from Delaware and held without bond in Maryland

Maryland mother Darrian Randle was extradited from Delaware and ordered to be held without bond after being accused of killing her toddler in June, the Cecil County State's Attorney's Office said.

www.cbsnews.com

Mother accused of killing toddler, hiding body extradited from Delaware and held without bond in Maryland​

Darrian Randle was extradited from Delaware to Maryland and ordered to be held without bond after being accused of killing her toddler in June, the Cecil County State's Attorney's Office said Friday.

According to charging documents, Randle called in the fake kidnapping in Delaware, prompting an investigation that ultimately led to the discovery of 3-year-old Nola Dinkins' body.

On Friday, the state's attorney's office said 31-year-old Randle was transported back to Maryland to face charges as a result of an agreement between the governors of Delaware and Maryland.

Under the agreement, Randle will face charges in Maryland before she faces felony charges in Delaware for filing a false police report.

In Maryland, Randle is facing 11 charges, including murder and child abuse resulting in death.


Britten is being held on no bond at the Cecil County Detention Center, according to the state's attorney's office.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Trial begins for Maryland mother accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter

A trial began for a Maryland mother accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter in Cecil County.

www.cbsnews.com

Trial begins for Maryland mother accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter​

A trial began Monday for a Maryland mother accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter in Cecil County.

Darrian Randle, 32, is facing multiple charges, including murder, assault, and child abuse, after investigators found the body of her daughter, Nola Dinkins, in a suitcase in June 2025.

More than 100 potential jurors filed into a Cecil County courtroom Monday as both the prosecution and defense teams worked to determine the best jurors to hear the case.

The jury pool was asked questions, like who had heard about the case. They were also asked if they had strong feelings about the case, to which 74 people said yes.

When asked if they had concerns about viewing graphic evidence, 20 people stood up.

Randle sat with her lawyer as the trial got underway on Monday.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

This case actually went to trial relatively quickly!

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Opening statements begin in trial of Maryland mother accused of killing 3-year-old daughter

Opening statements on Tuesday detailed the conditions that a toddler was living in before she was murdered in Cecil County.

www.cbsnews.com

Opening statements begin in trial of Maryland mother accused of killing 3-year-old daughter​

Opening statements on Tuesday detailed the conditions that a toddler was living in before she was murdered in Cecil County.

The murder trial started with opening statements and testimony on Tuesday after a 12-person jury was selected out of more than 100 candidates.

Video shows Randle reporting her missing child​

A pregnant Randle was shown on body camera footage crying after reporting that her daughter, Nola Dinkins, had been kidnapped at gunpoint in New Castle County, Delaware.

Jurors listened as Patrol Officer Jacob Whatley testified to responding to that call on June 9, 2025, stating that Randle was upset when he arrived, but her demeanor quickly changed to "collected and not as upset," which he called unusual.

Randle is heard in the video explaining that she had recently moved to the area and pulled over to console Dinkins, who was crying in the backseat.

She told officers that was when a white, bald man in a sweatshirt pulled over and asked if she needed help, before pulling a gun, snatching the toddler, and driving off.

Father claims Randle kept the child from him​

Dinkins' father, Dominique, said that after he and Randle broke up, they agreed he would have custody of Dinkins every other weekend. He said Randle didn't always stick to that plan.

He testified he didn't see his daughter from October 2024 until January 2025, when they had a mediation hearing in court.

When Dominique finally had the chance to see her, he noticed scars on her body.

Dominique said he last saw his daughter in February 2025, roughly three and a half months before learning she died. He told the court he reached out to Randle repeatedly to see his daughter, but evidence showed she rarely responded.

State says mother abused and neglected child​

State prosecutors argued during opening statements that Randle was trying to get rid of Dinkins before giving birth to her new baby.

The state said evidence found in the Cecil County home they lived in included bloody sheets, soiled clothing, and a belt that was allegedly used to beat Dinkins to death.

Prosecutors said that when the child was found, she weighed just 19 pounds. As the trial continues, the state said it will show a history of abuse and neglect.

Defense tosses blame at boyfriend​

The defense claims that Randle's boyfriend, Cedrick Britten, hated the little girl and wanted her gone.

Randle's attorney told the jury that Britten is the one who killed Nola and dumped her body before forcing Randle to go to Delaware to report that she was kidnapped.

The defense asked the jury to listen to the facts, but the hard road may be where the truth lies.

Testimony will continue Wednesday morning, when law enforcement officers are expected to take the stand to talk about how the case unfolded after that initial call to report Dinkins missing.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Delaware detective testifies during trial for Maryland mother accused in her daughter's death

A trial continued Wednesday for a Maryland mother who is accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter in June 2025.

www.cbsnews.com

Delaware detective testifies during trial for Maryland mother accused in her daughter's death​

A trial continued Wednesday for a Maryland mother who is accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter in June 2025.

Day 3 of the Darrian Randle trial​

Randle was sobbing in the courtroom on Wednesday as she listened to a recording of herself confessing to the murder of Dinkins.

Detective Daniel Elwood with the New Castle County Police Department testified as prosecutors played the video of his June 2025 interview with Randle.

In the video, the detective asks about a photo that was allegedly found on Randle's phone that showed Dinkins slumped over on a toilet with marks on her legs. At first, Randle said the marks were from hot bath water. However, she ultimately admitted to beating the girl with a belt on several occasions, which she called "pow pows."

She told detectives that she would use "pow pows" with her hands and once with a slipper as forms of punishment for not listening or lying.

In the video of the interview, the detective eventually gets Randle to admit that the reported kidnapping was fake.

She told Det. Elwood said that she "took it too far" and "lost control," hitting Dinkins 15 to 20 times with a belt until she was unconscious.

Randle also told the detective that she called her boyfriend, Britten, who attempted to give CPR to Dinkins, but she was already dead.

She told investigators she and her boyfriend, Cedrick Britten, then wrapped the little girl's body in Saran Wrap, put her in a suitcase on the step, and went out for Chinese food.

Despite being asked several times where the child's body was, Randle continued to tell detectives that she did not know.

A trooper with the Maryland State Police testified he found a child's clothing in a trash can in the garage of the home, with what appeared to be blood on it.

During the investigation, Britten allegedly admitted to taking the suitcase containing Dinkins' body to a nearby home, through some woods on Dune Road.

A corporal with Maryland State Police found the suitcase, testifying that it was in an outdoor trash can of a home that appeared to be under construction.

He immediately called homicide detectives, who opened the suitcase.

The corporal said he saw them remove a small body, "emaciated" in a fetal position, wrapped tightly in Saran Wrap.

Testimony will resume Thursday morning. WJZ is in the courtroom and will share updates as they come.