By Elizabeth Bonin, Staff Writer

(Jan. 30, 2020) The Berlin teen charged with murdering 17-year-old Dehaven Nichols last May pled guilty to second-degree murder and was convicted in Worcester County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Jan. 21. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered.

Vershawn Hudson-Crawford

Sixteen-year-old Vershawn Hudson-Crawford had faced charges of first-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault after being indicted by a grand jury. He was tried as an adult and faces up to 40 years imprisonment.

On May 22, Nichols was found unresponsive near an apartment complex off Route 113 in a wooded Berlin area. EMS personnel pronounced him dead. After the incident, Hudson-Crawford, his mother and grandfather reported to the Berlin Police Department that Hudson-Crawford had been in a fight with Nichols, according to police.

Preliminary investigation findings also revealed “the two teenage boys were involved in an altercation.” According to the autopsy, Nichols’ death “was caused by a combination of multiple significant injuries, including blunt force trauma, strangulation and asphyxiation.”

Hudson-Crawford previously entered a not guilty plea on May 29. He has been held without bond at the Worcester County Detention Center since May.

The Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office filed the intention to seek life without parole on July 12.

According to State’s Attorney Kris Heiser, the sentencing date has not yet been set.