𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Tragic End to Erroneous Amber Alert – Mother Charged in Death of 3-Year-Old Daughter Nola Dinkins

𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Tragic End to Erroneous Amber Alert – Mother Charged in Death of 3-Year-Old Daughter Nola Dinkins

𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: A devastating and deeply disturbing update has emerged in the case of 3-year-old Nola Dinkins, who was the subject of an Amber Alert issued in Delaware on June 10, 2025. The girl was never abducted. According to charging documents, her mother, 31-year-old Darrian Randle, has confessed to striking Nola to death, and along with her boyfriend, attempted to cover up the crime by disposing of the child’s body.

The harrowing chain of events began late on June 10, when Randle called police in New Castle, Delaware, reporting that her daughter had been kidnapped at gunpoint in Newark. The report triggered an immediate and widespread Amber Alert, mobilizing law enforcement across state lines. However, within hours, cracks began to appear in Randle’s account.

As part of their investigation, New Castle Police requested assistance from the Maryland State Police, asking them to check Randle’s last known address to ensure Nola hadn’t been left behind. Troopers arrived at the home of 44-year-old Cedrick Antoine Britten, Randle’s boyfriend. Britten told authorities that Nola had left with her mother and was not at the house.

Officers noticed multiple security cameras around the property and requested to review the footage. The video surveillance showed only Randle leaving the home—Nola was never seen. This, combined with the overwhelming smell of cleaning agents like bleach in the home, prompted further scrutiny. Britten consented to a search of the house and his vehicle. Inside his car, troopers discovered a child’s blanket stained with what appeared to be blood. Britten claimed the blanket was not his and had been given to him months earlier by a stranger.

Meanwhile, Randle was being interviewed by Delaware police. Initially, she provided false and conflicting statements. But under pressure, she ultimately confessed that there had been no abduction. Instead, she admitted that she had struck Nola 15–20 times with a belt on June 9, while at Britten’s house.

According to the charging documents, after the beating, Nola collapsed, became unresponsive, and stopped breathing. Randle and Britten attempted CPR but failed to revive her. The two then placed Nola’s lifeless body in a suitcase, which they stored overnight in the basement.

The following day, Randle asked Britten to dispose of the suitcase. Britten allegedly complied and later sent Randle a picture of a park, implying that the body had been dumped there. In a subsequent interview, Britten provided police with a map indicating the possible location of the child’s remains.

Authorities later found a suitcase containing human remains, matching the description of an emaciated child, fully wrapped in plastic wrap. The suitcase was located in a vacant lot directly behind Britten’s home. While official identification awaits the results of an autopsy, investigators are operating under the belief that the remains are those of Nola Dinkins. The Maryland medical examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death.

On June 11, Maryland State Police announced that Darrian Randle was taken into custody. She faces the following charges:

•First-degree murder

•Second-degree murder

•First-degree child abuse resulting in the death of a child under 13

•Multiple related charges

Randle remains in custody in Delaware on $1 million bond, pending extradition to Maryland.

Cedrick Britten was also charged as an accessory to first- and second-degree murder, among other charges. While prosecutors requested that Britten be held without bail, a judge controversially released him on $75,000 bond and placed him under home detention—a decision that has already sparked outrage in the community.

Community Reaction

The details of the case have shocked and horrified the public. What began as a desperate alert for a kidnapped toddler has turned into a heartbreaking tale of abuse, deception, and a failed cover-up. Advocates for child welfare are demanding accountability, while legal experts question the leniency shown in Britten’s pretrial release.

Vigils are already being planned in memory of Nola Dinkins, a young girl whose life was cruelly and violently taken from her. Social services in both Delaware and Maryland have launched internal reviews to examine whether there were any prior warning signs or opportunities for intervention.

As the legal process unfolds, both Randle and Britten are expected to face additional charges as evidence is reviewed. The autopsy results will play a crucial role in determining the full extent of the abuse and the exact timeline of events.

This tragedy has once again highlighted the urgent need for better oversight in at-risk households and the importance of swift, honest reporting in missing child cases. What remains now is the pursuit of justice for Nola, and a community mourning a young life lost far too soon.