Darrian Randle, the mother of 3-year-old Nola Dinkins, whose disappearance triggered an Amber Alert in Delaware, now faces serious murder charges in a case that has shocked communities across two states.

According to 6abc Philadelphia, the 31-year-old mother has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in the death of a minor under thirteen, and other related criminal charges in Maryland. She also faces charges of filing a false police report in Delaware.

Officials made the grim announcement during a Wednesday night news conference, confirming that Randle's boyfriend, 44-year-old Cedrick Britten of North East, Maryland, has also been charged as an accessory to murder after the fact, failure to report child death and other offenses.

False kidnapping report unravels

The investigation began Tuesday evening when Randle reported that her daughter had been kidnapped at gunpoint in Newark, Delaware, creating panic across the region.

Police say Randle initially claimed she had pulled over on Gender Road because Nola was upset, and that's when a man allegedly approached with a gun and abducted the child. This report triggered an immediate Amber Alert and massive search operation spanning multiple jurisdictions.

However, investigators soon discovered troubling inconsistencies in Randle's story. According to a criminal complaint obtained by Action News, Randle eventually admitted to fabricating the kidnapping report to "divert attention from her boyfriend," though authorities have not elaborated on what specifically this meant.

Body discovered in Cecil County

The case took a devastating turn Wednesday afternoon when authorities located human remains in a vacant lot in Cecil County, Maryland.

While positive identification is still pending autopsy results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, police stated that the remains are "consistent with that of a child." The discovery was made around 1:45 p.m., approximately 18 hours after Nola was first reported missing.

Elena Russo, spokesperson for the Maryland State Police, offered limited information about what evidence led to the murder charges but indicated investigators had gathered sufficient information connecting both Randle and Britten to the child's disappearance.

Investigation spans two states

The search for Nola quickly expanded from Delaware into Maryland, with authorities focusing on areas including Perryville Community Park.

Investigators determined that Randle and Britten shared a residence on Elk Nest Drive in North East, Maryland. In a potentially significant development, neighbors reported that Britten attended a neighborhood HOA meeting Tuesday night, around the same time the little girl was reported missing.

The timeline of events suggests that authorities quickly developed suspicions about Randle's account. The Amber Alert was canceled late Wednesday morning, hours before the body was discovered, indicating investigators had already shifted their focus from a kidnapping to a homicide investigation.

Lessons to learn from this tragedy

1. False reports can delay justice. Filing a fabricated report, especially in critical cases like child abductions, diverts crucial resources and time away from real leads. In this case, investigators had to unravel a misleading story, potentially delaying their ability to locate the child sooner.

2. Pay attention to inconsistencies in public safety reports. Law enforcement relies heavily on truthful accounts to activate tools like Amber Alerts. If a story has contradictions, authorities must start from scratch to re-verify facts — an essential but time-consuming task when time is of the essence.

3. Everyone should remain vigilant, but crime can affect anyone. While it's important to follow safety recommendations, this tragedy reminds us that even loved ones can pose threats. We must never blame victims — their safety was the responsibility of others who failed to protect them.

Why this story matters

This case underscores the crucial role of public cooperation in missing child cases and the serious repercussions of misleading authorities. It also brings to light the grim reality that harm can sometimes come from those closest to the victims. The community must remain alert and advocate for justice when the most vulnerable are harmed.

Conclusion

Darrian Randle, 31, has been charged with murder and child abuse following the disappearance of her 3-year-old daughter, Nola Dinkins, who was reported missing in Newark, Delaware, leading to an Amber Alert. Randle’s boyfriend, Cedrick Britten, has been charged as an accessory to the crime after a child's body was found in a vacant lot in Cecil County, Maryland. As authorities await confirmation of identity from the medical examiner, Randle remains held on a $1 million bond, and investigators urge anyone with information to come forward as they seek justice for Nola Dinkins.