A deeply disturbing case has emerged from North East, Maryland, where the remains of 3-year-old Nola Dinkins were found wrapped in plastic and concealed in a suitcase, prompting murder and child abuse charges against her mother and her mother’s boyfriend.
A False Kidnapping Report Unravels
The tragic timeline began on June 10, when Darrian Randle, Nola’s mother, reported her daughter missing, claiming the child had been kidnapped. Authorities quickly issued an Amber Alert and launched an intensive search.
However, within 24 hours, Maryland State Police responded to Randle’s home, where they encountered her boyfriend, Cedrick Antoine Britten. As detectives began piecing together inconsistencies in the couple’s story, what initially seemed like a kidnapping began to unravel into something far more sinister.
The Gruesome Discovery
Investigators later located Nola’s body in a vacant lot, inside a suitcase. According to court filings, the child was found emaciated, wrapped in Saran Wrap, and left hidden in the discarded luggage at the foot of a stairwell.
Documents further allege that on June 9, Randle beat her daughter until she was unresponsive. Instead of calling for medical help, she and Britten reportedly drove around with the child’s lifeless body before returning home and concealing it in the suitcase.
Charges Filed Against Mother and Boyfriend
Authorities have charged Randle with first- and second-degree murder, along with child abuse resulting in death. Britten has been charged as an accessory, accused of assisting in hiding the body and failing to notify law enforcement about the child’s death.
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Both suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
A Heartbroken Community Responds
The brutal nature of the case has left many in the local community stunned and grieving. Nola’s father has created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses, as public mourning spreads online and across neighborhoods.
Advocates say this tragedy underscores the importance of early intervention in suspected child abuse cases and calls for better protection systems for vulnerable children.
Seeking Justice for Nola
As the legal process moves forward, the community continues to demand justice for Nola Dinkins—a little girl whose life was cut short under horrifying circumstances. Prosecutors are expected to pursue the maximum penalties, while residents gather to remember and honor Nola’s memory.
This heartbreaking case serves as yet another reminder of the urgent need to recognize and report signs of abuse before it’s too late.
