Mom accused of beating 3-year-old to death with belt, then faking an abduction call to police
PERRYVILLE, Md. (Gray News) – A mom is accused of beating her 3-year-old daughter to death with a belt and then faking an abduction call to police, according to court documents obtained by local outlets.
According to Maryland State Police, Darrian Randle, 31, and her boyfriend, Cedrick Britten, 44, have both been charged in connection with the death of the toddler, Nola Dinkins.
Police said an AMBER Alert was sent out Tuesday night for Nola’s disappearance after Randle told police that her daughter was abducted by a stranger at gunpoint.
Police said Randle told them she was driving with her daughter in the vehicle when she pulled over. She said her daughter was upset and she pulled over to calm the child down.
Randle reported to police that an unknown man then approached the vehicle and kidnapped her daughter at gunpoint.
However, detectives later determined the information provided by the girl’s mother was false and they began treating the situation as a homicide investigation.
According to WBAL, detectives went to where Randle lived, which was the home of her boyfriend, and found what they believed to be a blood stain on a blanket and the smell of bleach.
Charging documents obtained by WBAL and WCAU state that in an interview with investigators, Randle itted to filing a false kidnapping report and said she beat her daughter to death with a belt, striking her 15 to 20 times.
Randle reportedly put Nola’s body in a suitcase and told Britten to take it somewhere.
The charging documents say Britten gave investigators information that led them to the child’s body in the suitcase at Perryville Community Park in Perryville, Maryland.
WBAL reports the child’s body was emaciated and wrapped in Saran Wrap.
On Wednesday, Maryland State Police said Randle was arrested on multiple charges, including first-degree and second-degree murder.
Britten was arrested and is facing charges that include accessory to first- and second-degree murder and failure to report a child death, police said.
According to the Office of the States Attorney for Cecil County, Randle is being held in Delaware a $1 million bond as she awaits extradition back to Cecil County.
Britton was released on a $75,000 cash bond and placed under house arrest.
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