Editor’s note: A press release from officials misspelled the suspect’s first name. The spelling has since been updated.
A registered sex offender held a missing Philadelphia teen captive in Delaware County and sexually assaulted her for multiple days, police said.
Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, shortly after 7 p.m., police responded to the 2200 block of Aspen Circle at the Marple Woods Condominium Complex in Marple Township, Pennsylvania, for the report of a missing 14-year-old girl who had been found.
Police said the girl was reported missing out of Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, but was found during the day on Thursday, Nov. 20, in Chester City by her relatives. Family members told responding police officers that the girl had been held against her will and sexually assaulted for multiple days at a residence within the Marple Woods Condominium Complex.
The girl was taken to the hospital and police identified the suspect as Davonte Lawler-Stinney, 38, of Marple Township. Lawler-Stinney was taken into custody and detectives executed a search warrant at his home. He is charged with rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, false imprisonment, terroristic threats and other offenses.
Lawler-Stinney is currently being held at Marple Township Police headquarters and awaiting his arraignment. Lawler-Stinney is a registered Tier 3 Megan’s Law Sex Offender with an extensive criminal record.
Lawler-Stinney is currently being held in the Delaware County Prison after failing to post bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4, 2025. Online court records don’t list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
“I want the public to know, especially the residents of our Marple Woods community, that Davontae Lawler-Stinney no longer lives among you nor poses a threat. To thank for that, we have the victim herself along with the dedicated, driven officers and detectives of the Marple Township Police Department who worked so swiftly and diligently. The initial responding officers – Sgt Kyle Engelman and Officers Ricky Dempsey and Austin Bleacher, exhibited some incredible de-escalation techniques to keep the peace and prevent a powder keg of emotion from exploding, making a horrible situation worse,” Marple Township Police Chief Brandon Graeff wrote in a statement.
“Lastly, I want to thank Deputy DA Kristen Kemp for not simply her invaluable support and consult in charging the case but her unyielding support of sex crime victims every day.”
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