Watkins Trial Delayed for Second Time
Mercer – The trial for the homicide of 14-year-old Pauly Likens has been delayed for the second time. DaShawn Watkins, now 30, of Sharon, has been charged with first-degree homicide and deviant sexual intercourse in the death of the teenager; his trial was scheduled for May 13th, but was granted a continuance until September 9th. The trial was delayed once more in August when Judge Daniel Wallace granted the defense a second continuance, with a new trial to be scheduled in January. At the time of reporting, court records have not been updated to reflect the new trial date or the reason for the new date.
In July of 2024, Watkins was arrested and charged with the crimes after the late June discovery of human remains in the Shenango Reservoir, which were identified as Pauly Likens. Pauly was a teenager who identified as trans, and authorities believe that after matching with Watkins on a dating app named Grindr, was killed by being stabbed in the back of the head.

1825 Presents Remember the Ladies: Huidekoper Women
Meadville – Most residents of Meadville know the Huidekoper name. Many of us know that Harm Jan Huidekoper was a philanthropist, abolitionist, and wealthy resident of Meadville in the 19th century. Most of us know even less about his wife, Rebecca, or his daughter Anna, who helped end slavery, or his granddaughter Cora, a naturalist who discovered multiple species of insects. This weekend, Meadville 1825 hosts a presentation by another female Huidekoper descendant, Marianne Berger Woods. Remember the Ladies: Huidekoper Women will be presented at the Unitarian Church of Meadville this Saturday at 1:30 p.m., and learn about the important roles in history played by the women in the Huidekoper family.