IntroductionÂ
There have been so many murders that have left people shocked. The recent one is the murder and disposal of Pauly Likens Jr by DeShawn Watkins. The murder and disposal of the body is grizzly and appalling and many hint that it was a hate crime. Shortly, we will be disclosing all about itâ
The victim
14-year-old late Pauly Likens Jr was a breath of fresh air to anyone who came in contact with her. Her obituary proved just the kind of amazing person she was. Pauly was someone who wanted to see people smile and laugh no matter what they were going through. She was not just concerned about herself, it showed in her selflessness and readiness to give from the little she had. A story that stands out in her obituary is that she donated her spare change to the veteransâ stand outside Walmart. Not everyone is that selfless and it makes her death even more painful. Like any child her age, she could be sassy and give her family a hard time. But, all her actions were from a place of love and she loved cracking jokes.
Disappearance and murder
On June 25th, 2024, Pauly Likens Jr.’s family reported their 14-year-old transgender girl missing. Following the report, the remains of Pauly Likens JR were found dismembered with a cutting instrument in Shenango River Lake, Pennsylvania, near the Ohio border. The Mercer County Coronerâs Office confirmed that these remains were indeed that of Pauly Likens Jr which made it imperative to know the cause of death and circumstances surrounding her murder.
Cause of death and suspect arrestÂ
According to investigations that were carried out, the cause of death of Pauly Likens Jr was discovered to be “sharp force trauma to the head.” 29-year-old DeShawn Watkins was arrested as the prime suspect in the murder of Pauly Likens. DeShawn Watkins claims not to have any recollection of the crime. DeShawn Watkins was arrested and charged with abuse of a corpse, first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. One begins to wonder what went through his mind while not just committing the murder but trying to hide the body.
The investigationÂ
In the words of the Mercer County District Attorney, Peter C. Acker this grizzly murder is “one of the most heinous crimes” he has seen in his 46-year legal career. There is a strong suspicion that this case is rooted in anti-transgender hate, but evidence to back up this claim during the investigation is ongoing. Based on surveillance footage obtained from the apartment building of Watkins, Watkins could be seen with several duffel bags from his apartment which coincides with the time Pauly disappeared. Blood was found in his apartment. Blood was also found in the places where Watkins dropped the bag in his struggle to carry out the heavy bags. He also left the next day with several garbage bags which is believed the dismembered body was in. When asked, Watkins claims to have a poor memory of that day. He only confessed that he was to meet someone in his apartment who he had met on Grindr an LGBTQ+ dating app. The motive for the murder is not clear but we can only hope that justice is servedâ
Community ResponseÂ
The Shenango Valley LGBTQIA+ Alliance has been supporting Pauly Likensâ family during this traumatic time. It is evident that DeShawn Watkins’s murder of Likens was purely a hate crime, so Likens’s murder has urged law enforcement to consider the hate crime and murder seriously so that Watkins will not walk away free. The whole case shows how so many people commit devastating crimes purely because of hate and the need for justice to be served so that their families can find closure.
Conclusion
The murder of Pauly Likens is a stark reminder that there are so many murders that occur simply because of nothing short of hate. It is up to everyone to eradicate crimes, particularly murder. If you see any suspicious activities, know of any murder, or have information that may help solve a crime, please reach out to law enforcement. Let us all solve crime one report at a time. At OKC Private Investigations & Process Server in Oklahoma, we know the Importance of getting the best murder private investigation services and legal services you can get. So, for more insights or our services, visit us at  www.privateinvestigatoroklahomacity.com you can email us at vivien@ojpslegal.com.Â