NEWARK, Del. — The disappearance of 3-year-old Nola Dinkins transitioned from an AMBER Alert to a multi-agency homicide investigation spanning Delaware and Maryland. Following what police say was a false kidnapping report, two individuals are now in custody and human remains have been recovered in a vacant lot in Maryland. The following is a detailed timeline of the events as released by law enforcement.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
7:14 p.m. — Report of Child Abduction
New Castle County Police responded to the 500 block of Gender Road in Newark, Delaware, after receiving a report from Darrian Randle, who stated that her 3-year-old daughter, Nola Dinkins, had been abducted at gunpoint. Randle told officers she had pulled over near the wooded area to calm her daughter when an unknown white male with a handgun approached and abducted Nola. The suspect fled the scene in an older dark-colored SUV, possibly a Ford or Chevrolet, which showed rust or dirt on the sides. The vehicle was reportedly driven by a white female.
7:43 p.m. — BOLO Alert Disseminated
A “Be On the Look Out” (BOLO) alert was issued by law enforcement agencies throughout the region. The male suspect was described as a bald white male in his mid-40s, wearing a black hoodie and gray basketball shorts. The female driver was described as a white female in her 30s with blonde hair. No license plate information was provided.
Just after 10:00 p.m. — AMBER Alert Issued
A statewide AMBER Alert was issued for Nola Dinkins. She was described as a Black female, approximately 3 feet tall, weighing 25 pounds, with black hair in a bun and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, black leggings, and white shoes. Authorities warned that there was no known connection between the child and the suspects, and requested the public’s assistance.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Morning — Police Reclassify Case
At a morning press briefing, New Castle County Police announced that overnight investigative efforts, in coordination with the FBI, had revealed inconsistencies in the original account. Police determined that the kidnapping story provided by Nola’s mother, Darrian Randle, was fabricated police said. The AMBER Alert was canceled, and the investigation was turned over to the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit.
Afternoon — Arrest of Darrian Randle
Darrian Randle was arrested and charged by New Castle County Police with felony falsely reporting an incident. She was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on $1,000,000 cash bail. Her custody status was confirmed at 9:38 p.m. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 23, 2025, at the New Castle County Court of Common Pleas in Wilmington.
Afternoon — Discovery of Human Remains in North East, Maryland
Maryland State Police responded to the last known address of Darrian Randle in North East, Maryland, where they made contact with 44-year-old Cedrick Antoine Britten. According to officials, the interaction and subsequent investigation uncovered evidence of potential criminal activity. This development led investigators to a vacant lot in North East.
At approximately 1:45 p.m., members of the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit located human remains in the vacant lot. The remains appeared consistent with those of a young child. The remains were sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore to perform an autopsy to confirm the identity of the deceased.
Later Afternoon — Additional Arrest And Charges Filed
Maryland State Police announced that both Darrian Randle and Cedrick Britten had been formally charged. Randle was charged in Maryland with first- and second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in the death of a minor under 13, and related offenses. She remained in custody in Delaware pending extradition. Britten was charged with accessory to first- and second-degree murder after the fact, failure to report a child’s death, and additional charges. He was taken into custody in Maryland and was awaiting his initial appearance in Cecil County District Court.
Notice: There was some discussion on social media that the remains were found in a Perryville park. Maryland State Police announced on Wednesday that the remains were found in North East. If that changes we’ll update
