According to court documents, a mother is accused of striking her 3-year-old daughter to death with a belt before making a false kidnapping call to police.
Darrian Randle, 31, and her boyfriend, Cedrick Britten, 44, have been charged by Maryland State Police with the death of Nola Dinkins, a toddler.
Police issued an AMBER Alert for Nola’s disappearance on Tuesday night after Randle reported that her daughter had been kidnapped at gunpoint by a stranger.
Randle told police she was driving with her daughter when she pulled over. She said her daughter was upset, so she pulled over to calm her down.
Randle told police that an unknown male approached the vehicle and kidnapped her daughter at gunpoint.
However, authorities later discovered that the information provided by the girl’s mother was fraudulent and began examining the case as a homicide enquiry.
According to court filings, detectives proceeded to Randle’s residence, which was also her boyfriend’s, and discovered what they thought was a blood spot on a blanket as well as the smell of bleach.
They also stated that there were no toys or “typical 3-year-old entertainment” within the home.
According to charging documents, Randle acknowledged to submitting a false kidnapping report and beating her daughter to death with a belt 15 to 20 times on June 9.
Randle stated that when she finished striking Nola, the toddler dropped on the ground and was not breathing or moving. Randle told police she contacted her boyfriend, who was also home at the time. Britten reportedly tried CPR, but Nola had died.
Randle told police she and Britten put Nola’s body in a car and drove about for a bit before choosing to return home. Randle then reportedly placed Nola’s body in a bag and directed Britten to transport it somewhere.
According to the criminal paperwork, Britten provided information that led authorities find the child’s remains in a suitcase at Perryville Community Park in Perryville, Maryland.
The child’s body was emaciated and wrapped in Saran Wrap, according to court filings.
Randle was arrested on various charges, including first- and second-degree murder, Maryland State Police announced on Wednesday.
Britten was detained and charged with accessory to first and second degree murder, as well as failure to report a child death, according to authorities.
According to the Office of the States Attorney for Cecil County, Randle is being jailed in Delaware on a $1 million bond while awaiting extradition back to Cecil County.
Britton was released on a cash bail of $75,000 and placed under house arrest.
Reference: Mom accused of beating 3-year-old to death with belt, then faking an abduction call to police