Missing Indiana girl at center of homicide investigation in Maryland

MARION, Ind. — A missing 3-year-old girl who recently lived in Marion is at the center of a homicide investigation in Maryland.

On Tuesday afternoon, Nola Dinkins became the focus of an Amber Alert issued by New Castle County Police in Delaware. Originally, police were told by Nola’s mother that an unknown male armed with a handgun had abducted the 3-year-old.

Investigators soon determined this account was false, however, and canceled the Amber Alert. The New Castle County Police Department then declared the case “a homicide investigation.”

Maryland State Police later confirmed a body was recovered in Cecil County, Maryland, in connection to Nola Dinkins’ case. Authorities are still waiting on positive identification of the body.

According to FOX29 in Philadelphia, Nola’s mother was taken into custody by New Castle County Police for false reporting.

Court documents obtained by FOX59/CBS4 show that Nola’s mother and father had been in a longstanding custody battle over the young girl. Nola’s mother was listed as living in Marion, Indiana, in the court documents but had petitioned the court to relocate to Maryland.

According to FOX29, police believe Nola was staying in Cecil County, Maryland, with her mother prior to her disappearance. Though it is unclear how long Nola and her mother have been living outside of Indiana. Court documents show the mother requested to relocate to Maryland in June 2023.

Court documents list Nola’s father as living in Indianapolis. According to the documents, the seperated couple had just agreed to terms for the custody and visitation of their daughter on March 5. The terms included Nola’s mother withdrawing her out-of-state relocation request.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.