Cecil County jury selection underway for man charged in death of 3-year-old Nola Dinkins
Jury selection is underway in Cecil County for the trial of 45-year-old Cedrick Britten, who is facing several charges in connection with the death of 3-year-old Nola Dinkins in June 2025.
Britten is accused of helping his girlfriend, Darrian Randle, hide her daughter's body. Randle, 32, was convicted in June of killing Dinkins, wrapping her in plastic wrap and hiding her body in a suitcase.
Randle was found guilty of murder, child abuse, neglect and assault. She is also facing felony charges in Delaware for filing a false police report.
Selecting a jury
The court is in the process of narrowing down 120 potential jurors to the 12 who will ultimately be seated.
Britten sat in a Cecil County courtroom Monday as attorneys on both sides worked to select the jurors who will determine his future.
When asked how many people had heard about the case before, at least 15 people in the 120-person jury pool raised their hands. When asked who had strong feelings about the allegations, more than 90 people said they did.
Jury selection is expected to continue Tuesday, and the trial is expected to last about 10 days.
The "devastating" death of Nola Dinkins
According to court testimony, Randle beat her 3-year-old daughter with a belt, following months of alleged child abuse at the North East, Cecil County, home Randle shared with Britten.
The investigation began after Randle falsely reported that Dinkins had been kidnapped at gunpoint in New Castle County, Delaware. The fake kidnapping report led Maryland State Police to visit the child's last known residence, where Britten was staying.
Randle later confessed that the kidnapping was not true and told police that Dinkins became unresponsive after she hit the child several times with a belt. According to charging documents, when Randle saw the child was no longer breathing, she called for Britten.
Britten was accused of helping wrap Dinkins' body in plastic wrap, placing her in a suitcase and dumping the suitcase at an abandoned home nearby.
"With the devastating loss of our 3-year-old Nola, who I fondly call my Nola girl, each day will get better, but she will forever be missed," Velma Dinkins, Nola's grandmother, said. "She was only three. What could a 3-year-old have done to bring this upon her?"
Randle is scheduled to be sentenced in October 2026. She is facing a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.
