Pauly Likens’ father remembers the killed teenager

THIS TRAGEDY. PAUL AITKEN SAID HE KNEW SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAD HAPPENED TO HIS CHILD BEFORE IT WAS OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED. HE IMMEDIATELY CAME BACK HERE TO THE BUD STREET CANOE LAUNCH TO DO A SEARCH HIMSELF. THAT’S EXACTLY THE PLACE HE WANTED TO TALK TO US ABOUT FOR A SPECIFIC REASON. I NEED TO FIND OUT WHERE MY SON DIED. THIS WORLD AND I’VE ALWAYS COME THROUGH HERE SO I CAN FEEL CLOSER TO POLLY. POLLY LIKENS WAS A 14-YEAR-OLD TRANSGENDER GIRL FROM SHARON WHO WAS LAST SEEN ON JUNE 22. THAT WAS JUST A FEW DAYS LATER. Mercer County officials found dismembered human remains identified as Polly, Polly’s father. Speaking to Pittsburgh’s Action News Four, he referred to Polly as his son. Paul Likens said he heard from Polly daily, even going so far as to never leave the house without “I love you” and constant check-ins. That’s why Paul immediately had a terrible feeling. I couldn’t feel my connection to them anymore. So I knew. That’s why I looked for him differently than everyone else looked for him. 29-YEAR-OLD DESHAUN WATKINS HAS SINCE BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN CONNECTION WITH POLLY’S DEATH. THE MERCER COUNTY CORPORATE OFFICE DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF DEATH AS A SHARP FORCE BREATH TO THE HEAD. PAUL JUNIOR WAS A BEAUTIFUL MAN. HE WAS A GOOD BOY, A REALLY GOOD BOY, AND HE DIDN’T DESERVE THIS. STATE POLICE SAY POLLY WAS SEEN ON SECURITY VIDEO AT THE CANOE LAUNCH AND APPEARED TO MEET WITH A PERSON IDENTIFIED IN THE CONTEXT AS WATKINS. THAT DAY THE WORLD LOST A LITTLE OF ITS SHINE. THE DAY POLLY WAS TAKEN FROM US. Now Paul hopes Polly is always remembered as a generous and happy person. He says Polly loved everyone and anyone and loved them very much. And we also learned tonight that the Pennsylvania Youth Congress has been in contact with local, state and federal authorities regarding the death of Polly Likens. We also confirmed with the Mercer County District Attorney’s Office that ethnic intimidation charges could be filed against this suspect.

“The world lost a little shine the day Pauly was kidnapped”: Pauly Likens’ father remembers the murdered teenager

Updated: July 8, 2024, 11:08 p.m. EDT

“I need to find out where my son left this world, and I always came here to feel closer to Pauly,” said Paul Likens Sr. Pauly Likens, a 14-year-old transgender girl from Sharon, was last seen on June 22. Just days later, Mercer County officials found dismembered human remains identified as Pauly. Pauly’s father, speaking to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, referred to Pauly as his son. Paul Likens says he heard from Pauly daily, even going so far as to never leave the house without an “I love you” and constant check-ins. That’s why Paul immediately had a terrible feeling. “I couldn’t feel my connection to him anymore. So I knew that’s why I was looking for him differently than everyone else,” Likens said. DaShawn Watkins, 29, has since been charged with manslaughter in Pauly’s death. The Mercer County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death to be sharp force trauma to the head. Pennsylvania police say Pauly was seen on surveillance video at the canoe launch, apparently meeting with someone now identified as Watkins. “Paul Jr. was a beautiful soul. He was a good boy, a really good boy. He didn’t deserve this,” Likens said. Now Paul hopes Pauly will always be remembered as a generous and happy boy because he loved everyone and loved them very much. “The world lost a little bit of its shine the day Pauly was taken away,” Likens said. The Pennsylvania Youth Congress has been in contact with local, state and federal agents in recent days about Pauly’s death.

“I need to find out where my son disappeared from this world, and I always came here to feel closer to Pauly,” said Paul Likens Sr.

Pauly Likens, a 14-year-old transgender girl from Sharon, was last seen on June 22. Just days later, Mercer County officials found dismembered human remains identified as Pauly’s.

Pauly’s father referred to Pauly as his son to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. Paul Likens says he heard from Pauly daily and even went so far as to never leave the house without an “I love you” and constant check-ins. That’s why Paul immediately had a terrible feeling.

“I couldn’t feel my connection to him anymore. That’s why I looked for him differently than everyone else,” Likens said.

DaShawn Watkins, 29, has since been charged with manslaughter in connection with Pauly’s death. The Mercer County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head. According to Pennsylvania State Police, Pauly was seen on surveillance video at the canoe launch and apparently met with the person now identified as Watkins.

“Paul Jr. was a beautiful soul. He was a good boy, a really good boy. He didn’t deserve this,” Likens said.

Now Paul hopes that Pauly will always be remembered as a generous and happy person, and says that Pauly loved everyone and loved them very much.

“The world lost a little of its shine the day Pauly was brought in,” Likens said.

The Pennsylvania Youth Congress has been in touch with local, state and federal authorities in recent days regarding Pauly’s death.