Topline: Police say a Maryland mother beat her 3-year-old daughter to death, then lied to investigators about a kidnapping.
Published: July 15, 2025 7:30 am ET
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NORTH EAST, MD — A Maryland woman who initially sparked a multi-state Amber Alert is now charged with murdering her 3-year-old daughter and hiding the child’s body with the help of her boyfriend.
On June 11, human remains found in a vacant lot off Dune Drive in North East, Cecil County, were confirmed to be those of Nola Dinkins, 3, Maryland State Police announced Friday.
The discovery followed a tangled and tragic investigation that began with a fabricated kidnapping report and ended with murder charges.
According to WBAL-TV, Darrian Randle, 31, of North East, first called New Castle County police in Delaware claiming her daughter had been abducted at gunpoint in Newark. The call triggered an Amber Alert across state lines. But as investigators began piecing together the case, that story quickly began to unravel.
Following protocol, New Castle police contacted Maryland State Police to check Randle’s last known address. Troopers responded to the home of Randle’s boyfriend, 44-year-old Cedrick Antoine Britten, on Elk Nest Drive. Britten told officers that Randle had left with the child. However, surveillance footage from his home contradicted that — cameras showed only Randle leaving. Nola was never seen on video.
When officers searched Britten’s home, they noted a strong smell of cleaning products, particularly bleach, and found a child’s blanket in Britten’s car with a reddish-brown stain consistent with blood. Britten claimed he’d gotten the blanket from a stranger in a park the previous summer.
As the investigation intensified, Randle was interviewed by police in Delaware. According to charging documents obtained by 11 News, she initially gave a series of false statements before ultimately admitting the abduction never occurred. Instead, she confessed to striking Nola with a belt 15 to 20 times at Britten’s home on June 9. After the girl collapsed and became unresponsive, Randle and Britten tried CPR but soon realized she was dead, the documents state.
Authorities allege the two then placed Nola’s body into Britten’s car and drove around before returning to the house. There, they placed her in a blue suitcase, which remained in the basement overnight. The next day, Randle reportedly asked Britten to dispose of it. Britten later sent Randle a photo of a park, according to police.
It was Britten who eventually led authorities to the body. During a June 11 interview, he drew a map for investigators. Using his directions, police discovered the suitcase in a wooded area near his home. Officials said the remains were wrapped entirely in plastic wrap and consistent with an emaciated child.
Randle was arrested on charges including first- and second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in the death of a minor. She remains in custody in Delaware awaiting extradition to Maryland on $1 million bond.
Britten, who was initially released on bond after being charged as an accessory, now faces upgraded charges, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. As of July 2, he is charged with 11 offenses including child abuse resulting in death — a charge that carries a potential life sentence. He is currently held without bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 11.
Residents of the Elk Nest neighborhood reacted with disbelief and sorrow.
“We just can’t fathom how a human being can do this to another human being,” one neighbor told WBAL-TV. Another added, “Having a mother that’s supposed to love their child and make sure they’re doing right by them — hearing she was abused and eventually killed — that’s a horrible thing.”
The case remains under investigation.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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From False Amber Alert to Murder Charges: What Happened to Nola Dinkins
Police say a Maryland mother beat her 3-year-old daughter to death, then lied to investigators about a kidnapping.
By Jacob Charles
Published: July 15, 2025 7:30 am ET
NORTH EAST, MD — A Maryland woman who initially sparked a multi-state Amber Alert is now charged with murdering her 3-year-old daughter and hiding the child’s body with the help of her boyfriend.
On June 11, human remains found in a vacant lot off Dune Drive in North East, Cecil County, were confirmed to be those of Nola Dinkins, 3, Maryland State Police announced Friday.
The discovery followed a tangled and tragic investigation that began with a fabricated kidnapping report and ended with murder charges.
According to WBAL-TV, Darrian Randle, 31, of North East, first called New Castle County police in Delaware claiming her daughter had been abducted at gunpoint in Newark. The call triggered an Amber Alert across state lines. But as investigators began piecing together the case, that story quickly began to unravel.
Following protocol, New Castle police contacted Maryland State Police to check Randle’s last known address. Troopers responded to the home of Randle’s boyfriend, 44-year-old Cedrick Antoine Britten, on Elk Nest Drive. Britten told officers that Randle had left with the child. However, surveillance footage from his home contradicted that — cameras showed only Randle leaving. Nola was never seen on video.
When officers searched Britten’s home, they noted a strong smell of cleaning products, particularly bleach, and found a child’s blanket in Britten’s car with a reddish-brown stain consistent with blood. Britten claimed he’d gotten the blanket from a stranger in a park the previous summer.
As the investigation intensified, Randle was interviewed by police in Delaware. According to charging documents obtained by 11 News, she initially gave a series of false statements before ultimately admitting the abduction never occurred. Instead, she confessed to striking Nola with a belt 15 to 20 times at Britten’s home on June 9. After the girl collapsed and became unresponsive, Randle and Britten tried CPR but soon realized she was dead, the documents state.
Authorities allege the two then placed Nola’s body into Britten’s car and drove around before returning to the house. There, they placed her in a blue suitcase, which remained in the basement overnight. The next day, Randle reportedly asked Britten to dispose of it. Britten later sent Randle a photo of a park, according to police.
It was Britten who eventually led authorities to the body. During a June 11 interview, he drew a map for investigators. Using his directions, police discovered the suitcase in a wooded area near his home. Officials said the remains were wrapped entirely in plastic wrap and consistent with an emaciated child.
Randle was arrested on charges including first- and second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in the death of a minor. She remains in custody in Delaware awaiting extradition to Maryland on $1 million bond.
Britten, who was initially released on bond after being charged as an accessory, now faces upgraded charges, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. As of July 2, he is charged with 11 offenses including child abuse resulting in death — a charge that carries a potential life sentence. He is currently held without bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 11.
Residents of the Elk Nest neighborhood reacted with disbelief and sorrow.
“We just can’t fathom how a human being can do this to another human being,” one neighbor told WBAL-TV. Another added, “Having a mother that’s supposed to love their child and make sure they’re doing right by them — hearing she was abused and eventually killed — that’s a horrible thing.”
The case remains under investigation.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
From False Amber Alert to Murder Charges: What Happened to Nola Dinkins
Police say a Maryland mother beat her 3-year-old daughter to death, then lied to investigators about a kidnapping.
By Jacob Charles
Published: July 15, 2025 7:30 am ET
NORTH EAST, MD — A Maryland woman who initially sparked a multi-state Amber Alert is now charged with murdering her 3-year-old daughter and hiding the child’s body with the help of her boyfriend.
On June 11, human remains found in a vacant lot off Dune Drive in North East, Cecil County, were confirmed to be those of Nola Dinkins, 3, Maryland State Police announced Friday.
The discovery followed a tangled and tragic investigation that began with a fabricated kidnapping report and ended with murder charges.
According to WBAL-TV, Darrian Randle, 31, of North East, first called New Castle County police in Delaware claiming her daughter had been abducted at gunpoint in Newark. The call triggered an Amber Alert across state lines. But as investigators began piecing together the case, that story quickly began to unravel.
Following protocol, New Castle police contacted Maryland State Police to check Randle’s last known address. Troopers responded to the home of Randle’s boyfriend, 44-year-old Cedrick Antoine Britten, on Elk Nest Drive. Britten told officers that Randle had left with the child. However, surveillance footage from his home contradicted that — cameras showed only Randle leaving. Nola was never seen on video.
When officers searched Britten’s home, they noted a strong smell of cleaning products, particularly bleach, and found a child’s blanket in Britten’s car with a reddish-brown stain consistent with blood. Britten claimed he’d gotten the blanket from a stranger in a park the previous summer.
As the investigation intensified, Randle was interviewed by police in Delaware. According to charging documents obtained by 11 News, she initially gave a series of false statements before ultimately admitting the abduction never occurred. Instead, she confessed to striking Nola with a belt 15 to 20 times at Britten’s home on June 9. After the girl collapsed and became unresponsive, Randle and Britten tried CPR but soon realized she was dead, the documents state.
Authorities allege the two then placed Nola’s body into Britten’s car and drove around before returning to the house. There, they placed her in a blue suitcase, which remained in the basement overnight. The next day, Randle reportedly asked Britten to dispose of it. Britten later sent Randle a photo of a park, according to police.
It was Britten who eventually led authorities to the body. During a June 11 interview, he drew a map for investigators. Using his directions, police discovered the suitcase in a wooded area near his home. Officials said the remains were wrapped entirely in plastic wrap and consistent with an emaciated child.
Randle was arrested on charges including first- and second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in the death of a minor. She remains in custody in Delaware awaiting extradition to Maryland on $1 million bond.
Britten, who was initially released on bond after being charged as an accessory, now faces upgraded charges, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. As of July 2, he is charged with 11 offenses including child abuse resulting in death — a charge that carries a potential life sentence. He is currently held without bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 11.
Residents of the Elk Nest neighborhood reacted with disbelief and sorrow.
“We just can’t fathom how a human being can do this to another human being,” one neighbor told WBAL-TV. Another added, “Having a mother that’s supposed to love their child and make sure they’re doing right by them — hearing she was abused and eventually killed — that’s a horrible thing.”
The case remains under investigation.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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