Body found after mom allegedly lied about her 3-year-old daughter being kidnapped

UPDATE, 6/12/2025:

In a recent update, Maryland State Police announced that 3-year-old Nola Dinkins' mother, Darrian Randle, now faces charges of first- and second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in death of a minor under 13, and other related criminal charges. She is currently in custody at the New Castle County Division of Police awaiting extradition.

Forty-four-year-old Cedrick Britten faces charges of accessory to first- and second-degree murder after the fact, failure to report child death, and other related criminal charges.

According to WMAR-TV, Britten is the boyfriend of Randle.

Randle reportedly admitted that she lied about her daughter's kidnapping and that she hit the child with a belt 15 to 20 times. The toddler allegedly fell to the ground and stopped breathing. Randle reportedly said that she and her boyfriend drove around with Dinkins' body, went home, and then placed her in a blue suitcase and left her on the stairs overnight.

According to court documents reviewed by WMAR, officials later found a body "consistent with an emaciated child" that was "completely wrapped in saran wrap." State police are still awaiting positive identification.

MORE:

• News Release - Maryland State Police
• Mother confessed to beating daughter, leaving body in a suitcase overnight, court docs say - WMAR

NEWARK, Del. (TCN) -- A mother is in custody after allegedly lying to authorities that her daughter had been kidnapped.

According to New Castle County Police, on the night of June 10, officers responded to Gender Road to a report of a kidnapping. Darrian Randle, the mother of 3-year-old Nola Dinkins, reportedly said she pulled over after her daughter "became upset."

Randle told officials she tried to comfort Dinkins when an unknown man armed with a gun approached the vehicle and abducted the child before fleeing in an SUV with a female driver.

Authorities issued an Amber Alert for Dinkins, and an investigation was launched. According to police, detectives later determined Randle's statement was false, and the Amber Alert was canceled.

Per a criminal complaint obtained by WPVI-TV, Randle admitted to lying about the abduction and said she falsely reported the incident to "divert attention from her boyfriend."

In an update posted June 11, Maryland State Police said as they investigated the possible kidnapping, officials located a body in Cecil County, but they are waiting on positive identification.

Maryland State Police have assumed the case, which is now being investigated as a homicide.

Randle faces one count of felony falsely reporting out of Delaware. She was booked into the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on $1 million bail.

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