The case of a Sharon man accused of killing and dismembering a transgender teen has been sent to Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

Twenty-nine-year-old DaShawn Watkins appeared for a preliminary hearing before a district magistrate on Thursday.

Watkins, who has been held in the Mercer County Jail without bond since July 2 when he was arrested for the murder of Pauly Likens Jr., is scheduled to appear for a formal arraignment before Common Pleas Court Judge Daniel Wallace on September 24.

During his preliminary hearing, the prosecution requested two more charges be filed against Watkins including Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (IDSI) and general homicide.

As it stands, Watkins is charged with murder, aggravated assault, evidence tampering, and abuse of a corpse.

Testimony came from several witnesses including Mercer County Coroner John Libonati, who testified Likens's cause of death was sharp force trauma to the head and neck and that wounds were found on her ear, head, and neck.

Security camera video was also shown to the court of Watkins leaving his apartment several times, carrying garbage bags and other bags.

A Pennsylvania State Trooper also took the stand to testify about Watkins's interrogation.

The trooper testified that Watkins told him about a "consensual sexual encounter" with an unnamed individual where he and that unnamed individual had sex.

The trooper said while Watkins did not know the name of this individual, the description he provided matched that of Likens. 

The 14-year-old was last seen on June 22 and reported missing three days later when police found human remains around Shenango River Lake.

The remains were identified as those of the teen through forensic comparison and evaluation during the recovery efforts.

The cause of death was determined to be sharp force trauma to the head and was ruled homicide.

Information from Likens' cellular service provider, social media records and surveillance video shows that Likens walked to the Budd Street Public Park and Canoe Launch area and stayed there for some time on June 23 between 3 and 3:40 a.m.

Investigators say a security video shows Watkins leaving his apartment several times and carrying garbage bags and other bags.

Video from a business and home near the location showed a person matching Likens' description walking along Dock Street and Budd Street while using a cell phone.