Man accused of murdering, dismembering Mercer County teenager appears in court

MERCER COUNTY, Pa. — The man accused of brutally murdering and dismembering a Mercer County teenager appeared in court on Thursday.

>> Man charged with killing, dismembering missing 14-year-old in Mercer County

DaShawn Watkins, 29, is charged in the death of Pauly Likens, 14, after some of the teen’s body parts were found around the Shenango River Lake.

“In this life or the next. He’s the one who has to answer to this when he walks with God on his judgment day,” said Paul Likens Sr., Pauly’s father. “As difficult as all of it’s been nobody wants to go through this. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

The case against Watkins is moving forward a month after police say he killed the teen, who investigators say identified as transgender. However, Likens Sr. says that’s not the case.

Prosecutors showed surveillance video of who they say is Watkins carrying multiple bags out of his Sharon apartment complex, then cleaning areas of the hallway.

According to police, Pauly and Watkins met on a dating app and met up at a nearby boat launch. Detectives say Watkins stabbed Pauly multiple times in the neck, then dismembered Pauly’s body.

As Pauly’s family says they are one step closer to justice, Likens Sr. is focusing on the last conversation he had with his child on the phone.

“My last words were ‘I love you,’ He never left the house without telling me he loved me. There was nothing left unsaid,” Likens Sr. said.

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