MERCER — All charges against the man accused in the murder of transgender teenager Pauly Likens and dumping the victim’s disembodied remains were ordered held for court after a preliminary hearing Thursday in Mercer County Court. The list of charges grew Thursday as prosecutors added accusations of homicide and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Dashawn Dale Depree Watkins, 29, of the 300 block of Sterling Avenue in Sharon, is accused of murdering Pauly, 14, of Sharon, June 23 in downtown Sharon near the Budd Street canoe launch along the Shenango River, authorities say.
Watkins is charged with first-degree murder, homicide, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated assault, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. District Judge Travis P. Martwinski ordered all of the charges held for court after a hearing that began at 10 a.
m. and extended into the afternoon. Several witnesses testified in Watkins’ preliminary hearing Thursday including Mercer County Coroner John A.
Libonati, state trooper Joseph B. Morris, trooper Joshua Black, state police Cpl. Chad Savannah and trooper Tyler A.
Craig. Craig is lead investigator in the case. During his testimony, he showed and explained videos that showed Watkins carrying an empty bag out of his apartment, dragging the loaded bag back in, cleaning up areas in the hallway to his apartment and making several trips carrying plastic bags out.
Craig also said that during his interview with Watkins, Watkins admitted to.