Mother Charged with Murder of Missing 3-Year-Old Daughter

NEWARK, Del. — A Maryland woman is facing serious charges after the death of her 3-year-old daughter, Nola Dinkins. Darrian Randle, 31, of North East, Maryland, was arrested and charged with first-degree and second-degree murder, along with several other offenses, including child abuse resulting in death and false reporting.

Authorities disclosed that Randle initially reported her daughter missing, claiming a man abducted Nola at gunpoint on June 10, 2025, while they were parked on Gender Road in Newark, Delaware. Randle told police she stopped to comfort her upset daughter when a man approached with a gun, demanding she hand over Nola.

The police investigation quickly uncovered inconsistencies in Randle’s story. New Castle County Police confirmed that the Amber Alert issued for Nola was canceled the following day after assessing that Randle’s claims were fabricated. ‘Detectives determined that the initial account of the incident given by the mother was false,’ stated Andrea Botterbusch, a police spokesperson.

As the investigation progressed, Maryland State Police located a body in a vacant lot in Cecil County, Maryland, that is believed to be that of Nola. Autopsy results are pending for confirmation of the identity. ‘At 1:45 today, Maryland State Police Homicide Unit located what appears to be human remains consistent with that of a child,’ said Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo.

Randle was initially taken into custody for false reporting but faced additional charges after the discovery of the body. She has been held on a $1 million cash bail and is awaiting extradition to Maryland from the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution.

Cedrick Britten, 44, Randle’s boyfriend, has also been arrested and is charged with accessory to murder, among other offenses. He is currently in police custody in Maryland and awaiting transport to court.

The details surrounding Nola’s disappearance and the subsequent investigation remain under scrutiny as authorities continue to piece together the events leading to her death.