Mother Confesses to Killing 3-Year-Old Daughter, Hiding Body in Suitcase

In a heartbreaking and deeply disturbing case, a Maryland mother has confessed to beating her 3-year-old daughter, Nola Dinkins, to death and fabricating a kidnapping report to cover up the crime. The case, now drawing national attention, has left the community in shock and grief.

📌 A Fake Kidnapping That Unraveled Quickly

On the night of June 11, 2025, Darrian Randle, 31, called police in New Castle, Delaware, claiming her daughter, Nola Dinkins, had been abducted at gunpoint from a vehicle. An Amber Alert was immediately issued, prompting a multi-state search effort.

But the story began to fall apart within hours. Surveillance footage and inconsistencies in Randle’s statements raised red flags for investigators. Detectives noticed a strong smell of bleach in her Maryland home, and a blanket with blood stains was later found in her boyfriend’s car.

💔 The Mother’s Confession

Under questioning, Randle admitted there had been no abduction. She told police that on June 10, she had repeatedly struck Nola with a belt—between 15 and 20 times—after becoming frustrated. Nola lost consciousness and stopped breathing.

Instead of seeking help, Randle and her boyfriend, Cedrick Britten, allegedly placed the child’s body in a suitcase, stashed it in a car overnight, and later dumped the suitcase in a remote wooded area. Britten even took a photo of the disposal site to confirm the act.

🔎 Body Discovered in Vacant Lot

Following a tip and a hand-drawn map provided by Britten, authorities found the suitcase near Dune Drive in Cecil County, Maryland. Inside was the decomposed body of a child wrapped in plastic, consistent with Nola’s description. An autopsy is underway to confirm the identity and cause of death.

⚖️ Charges Filed

 

• Darrian Randle has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, and false reporting. She is being held on $1 million bond in Delaware, awaiting extradition to Maryland.

 

• Cedrick Britten faces charges including accessory after the fact, evidence tampering, and failure to report a death. He has been placed under home detention after posting bond.

🗣 Family and Community in Mourning

Nola’s extended family is devastated. Her grandmother, Velma Dinkins, said, “She was joyful, smart, and so full of life. We are beyond heartbroken.” Community members lit candles and laid stuffed animals near the family’s residence in her memory.