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Thread: Curtis Ray Watson Sentenced to LWOP in 2019 TN Slaying of Correctional Administrator, Debra Johnson

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    Curtis Ray Watson Sentenced to LWOP in 2019 TN Slaying of Correctional Administrator, Debra Johnson


    TDOC administrator Debra Johnson





    Blue Alert: "Extremely dangerous" inmate escaped, TBI says

    By WVLT and AP

    HENNING, Tenn. (WVLT/AP) -- Authorities in Tennessee are searching for an escaped inmate who is a person of interest in the recent homicide of a Department of Correction employee.

    The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says 44-year-old Curtis Ray Watson escaped Wednesday from the West Tennessee State Penitentiary, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) outside of Memphis. WTVF reported Watson escaped using a tractor which was found a mile away from the facility.

    The TBI issued a "Blue Alert," which is used to inform the public of violent suspects who kill or seriously injure law enforcement officers in the line of duty.

    Authorities say 64-year-old Debra Johnson, a correctional administrator, was killed on Wednesday. They didn't give further details.

    Watson has been incarcerated since 2012 for an aggravated kidnapping conviction. Police said at the time that Watson knocked a woman over the head with an object and raped her multiple times.

    TBI says Watson should be considered extremely dangerous.

    https://www.wvlt.tv/content/news/TBI...526032111.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Affidavit says Curtis Ray Watson strangled, sexually assaulted Tennessee corrections employee

    By Phillip Jackson
    Memphis Commercial Appeal

    Affidavits released from the Lauderdale County Clerk's Office detail the allegations against Curtis Ray Watson, a fugitive who escaped the West Tennessee State Penitentiary on Wednesday.

    The affidavits, sworn by agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, are the basis of warrants for first-degree murder, especially aggravated battery, and aggravated sexual battery charges against Watson.

    According to those documents, Watson was considered a trusty, a prisoner who has been given special privileges in return for good behavior.

    He was released from the prison about 7 a.m. Wednesday for his daily mowing duties. Through his position at the prison, he had access to equipment, including a tractor and a golf cart, according to an affidavit.

    At about 8:30 a.m., correctional officers saw Watson in a golf cart at the home of Debra Johnson, a corrections administrator at the prison. Johnson lived in one of about a dozen on-site residences at the prison facility.

    Between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., Watson took a tractor and reflective vest from the prison and drove away from the site, the affidavits say. Officials did not notice he was missing until an hour later, according to the affidavit.

    Johnson's coworkers went to her residence and discovered her body at 11:30 a.m. Johnson was found with a cord wrapped around her neck and ligature marks. Investigators believe she had been strangled and sexually assaulted, according to the affidavit.

    The tractor Watson was driving was found about two miles away from the prison at 1:30 p.m. where his prison identification was recovered, according to the affidavit.

    Where was Curtis Watson last spotted?

    TBI said Thursday there have been no confirmed sightings of Watson, despite numerous reports across the state.

    TBI Director David Rausch also said Thursday the agency has received over 75 tips placing Watson across Tennessee and in other states.

    "We are following up on every tip we receive. The ones we feel are most credible we are checking them first," Rausch said.

    In a news conference Thursday, Rausch advised people in the region to check their property for things that are out of place, check security and trail cameras and check on their neighbors.

    "He could be anywhere," Rausch said.

    Officials said Watson worked on the grounds as a farm laborer. A tractor was discovered about a mile from the prison.

    Where could he be going?

    TBI showed this map of the search area as they held a press conference about Curtis Ray Watson, an inmate who escaped from the West Tennessee State Penitentiary.

    Watson's sentence was connected to a Henry County conviction from 2013.

    Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew urged the community to be aware of the possibility Watson would return to the area, which is approximately 100 miles northeast of the prison.

    "The suspect does have ties to the community. We are urging our citizens to have a heightened awareness and use caution," Belew said.

    What you need to know

    Watson's weight is between 180-200 pounds and he stand 5-foot-11.

    Authorities have distributed several photos of Watson, and his tattoos, to help the public identify him

    The reward for information leading to his capture and conviction has grown to $52,500

    A TBI tweet said that Watson "should be considered extremely dangerous."

    TBI asks anyone with information on Watson’s whereabouts should call 911 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

    https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/new...st/1966285001/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    TBI, TDOC confirm sighting of Curtis Ray Watson in Henning

    By Echo Day
    The Leader


    Curtis Ray Watson was spotted at a home near Henning early Sunday morning, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Tennessee Department of Correction announce.

    Photos showing Watson – who has now changed clothes and is dressed in camouflage coveralls and a hat while carrying a bag – were taken by a Ring camera at about 3:30 a.m.

    Authorities are encouraging residents to continue to be vigilant and alert.

    The search for Watson, who walked away from work release on Wednesday morning and is accused of sexually assaulting and strangling correctional administrator Debra Johnson before leaving the prison campus on a tractor, is now entering its fifth day.

    The TBI and TDOC will be briefing the media Sunday morning.

    http://www.covingtonleader.com/news/..._medium=social
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    They got him!

    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Escaped Inmate Charged With Murder Back In Custody

    Tennessee Department of Corrections News Release

    HENNING - Curtis Ray Watson, the escaped inmate charged with the murder of Correctional Administrator Debra Johnson is back in TDOC custody. The vigilant efforts of search teams from the Tennessee Department of Correction, THP, FBI, US Marshal’s, local law enforcement, TBI, ATF and with helpful tips from the citizens of Lauderdale County led to Watson’s capture at approximately 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 11. Watson was apprehended in Henning, Tennessee.

    Watson was reported missing shortly after 10:30 am Wednesday, August 7. Supervising TDOC officers immediately implemented appropriate procedures including alerting local authorities. Ms. Johnson was discovered deceased in her house on prison grounds around 11:30 that morning.

    The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide Blue Alert for Watson on Wednesday and he was listed as a person of interest in the homicide of Correctional Administrator Johnson. A warrant was issued charging him with First Degree Murder, Especially Aggravated Burglary and Aggravated Sexual Battery.

    Watson was serving an active sentence for especially aggravated kidnapping. He was convicted and sentenced in 2013. His prior conviction of child abuse expired in 2011.

    The Tennessee Department of Correction’s Office of Investigation and Compliance will continue to work with other agencies to investigate this incident and bring additional charges where appropriate.

    https://www.tn.gov/correction/news/2...n-custody.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    i'm surprised he didn't shave off that beard. it's very distinctive.

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    Curtis Ray Watson arraigned, preliminary hearing set for Sept. 25

    By Echo Day
    Covington Leader

    RIPLEY – Though he was transported from the Tipton County Jail to the Lauderdale County Justice Complex for his arraignment, Curtis Ray Watson did not appear in the courtroom.

    Instead, the man who escaped from the West Tennessee State Penitentiary a week ago who is now facing rape and murder charges in the death of prison administrator Debra Johnson, was arraigned by video only seen by judge Janice Craig.

    "Bond isn't an issue," she said, noting Watson was still in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Corrections until at least 2025 on his 2013 conviction for aggravated kidnapping. That conviction is related to a rape reported in 2012, according to the Paris Post-Intelligencer.

    Watson is being represented by the public defender's office, with assistant public defenders Dave Stockton and Frank Deslauriers his assigned counsel.

    During an arraignment, a defendant is formally advised of charges and the penalties they carry.

    Watson is facing 1 to 6 years for the Class E felony escape charge and 8 to 30 years each for the Class B felonies especially aggravated burglary and aggravated sexual battery. A first-degree murder conviction could mean life in prison, which is 51 years in Tennessee, life in prison without the possibility of parole or even the death penalty.

    District Attorney General Mark Davidson said the death penalty is being considered.

    It could be up to a year before the case would go to trial, said assistant district attorney Julie Pillow, who also said she hoped to have Watson indicted during Lauderdale County's October 2019 term.

    A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 25.

    A forensic evaluation has been requested by the public defender's office to determine Watson's competency for trial.

    Watson, who was wearing a white maximum security jumpsuit, was transported to and from Lauderdale County by the Tennessee Department of Corrections Strike Force 1. After his arraignment he was transferred back into TDOC custody and will be moved to another location.

    An update to the affidavit of complaint filed in the murder of Debra Johnson reported the medical examiner's office confirmed she died by strangulation and evidence shows she was sexually assaulted prior to her murder. Investigators said a prison vest believed to be Watson's and a cord believed to be the murder weapon were found inside her home. Grass was found on Johnson's body as well.

    Though it is detailed on the public record, The Leader has chosen to be vague in reporting the manner in which Johnson was found.

    The TDOC said Watson, who was classified a minimum security inmate, was seen on a golf cart at Johnson's home at approximately 8:30 a.m., 20 minutes after she is known to have made a phone call. Between 9-10 a.m., Watson is said to have taken another prisoner's reflective vest and escaped from daily mowing duties on a tractor, which was found 2.1 miles away.

    After a five-day manhunt, Watson was found 10 miles away from the prison. The ring camera system at the home of Harvey and Ann Taylor alerted them to movement in their carport which turned out to be Watson. He was arrested eight hours later in a wooded area near Caroline Street.

    Watson's family thanked law enforcement for arresting him and offered their sympathy.

    "The family of Curtis Watson would like to extend their deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to the family of Ms Debra Johnson," said Watson's daughter, Harley Pole, who lives in Camden.

    Watson's arraignment comes the day before visitation for Johnson is scheduled.

    The 64-year-old mother of three began working with TDOC as a correctional officer in January 1981. She rose through the ranks and, at the time of her death, oversaw four correctional facilities in West Tennessee.

    Visitation will take place from 3-7 p.m. Thursday at 15th Avenue Baptist Church and for two hours prior to her noon funeral service at The Temple Church Friday, both in Nashville.

    “After we bury her, we need to focus on why this occurred, how this occurred, how processes allowed this to occur, and so those are additional answers,” Johnson's daughter, Shernaye, told WMC-TV Action News 5.

    http://www.covingtonleader.com/news/...934ae5ec5.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Related:

    TBI hands out more than $32K reward to citizens who helped capture Tenn. prison escapee

    By James Long
    KAIT News

    TENNESSEE (KFVS) - Law enforcement handed out $32,250 in rewards to citizens who helped in the capture of a Tennessee prison escapee.

    According to the TBI, additional reward money will be available pending a conviction in the case.

    The total reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of Curtis Watson was at $57,500. The FBI and U.S. Marshal’s Service donated $10,000 each according to TBI. The Dept. of Corrections added $4,000 to the total on Saturday, Aug. 10.

    Officials said a total of 430 tips came in during their search.

    According to Tennessee Department of Corrections, Curtis Watson was taken into custody around 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11.

    He is being held in Tipton County, Tenn.

    Curtis Ray Watson escaped the West Tennessee State Penitentiary in Henning on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

    https://www.kait8.com/2019/09/05/tbi...rison-escapee/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Attorneys await results of mental evaluation of prison escapee Curtis Ray Watson, charged in TDOC administrator’s murder

    By Kendall Downing
    WMC News

    LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Tenn. (WMC) - Curtis Ray Watson did not make a Wednesday trip from Nashville to Ripley for a status hearing in his case as defense attorneys and prosecutors are waiting on his completed mental evaluation before they can move ahead.

    Public defenders for the escapee and accused murderer told a Lauderdale County judge Wednesday they're hoping Watson's forensic evaluation can be completed in October. They also said it's likely the evaluation by a physician will be done remotely by teleconference since Watson is housed at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution (RMSI) in Nashville.

    The evaluation will lay out an opinion on Watson’s competency to stand trial and his sanity at the time of the alleged offenses.

    “If for some reason, they found an issue with competency or sanity, then we would discuss internally whether or not we wanted to do another evaluation,” said Mark Davidson, district attorney general for the 25th Judicial District.

    Watson was captured in early August after a five-day manhunt by state and federal agencies in Lauderdale County. Investigators said the one-time trusty at the West Tennessee State Penitentiary in Henning strangled TDOC administrator Debra Johnson at her home on the prison grounds in Henning and sexually assaulted her. The 64-year-old grandmother was a 38-year state employee.

    The alleged crime garnered significant national attention, and the TBI handed out more than $32,000 in rewards to citizens who helped capture Watson. Additional funds could be awarded pending a conviction in the case.

    “It’s an extremely important case to us, to the family, and we are going to use all our resources to handle it right and see that justice is served,” said Davidson.

    Davidson said the case against Watson qualifies as a death penalty case, but his team hasn’t made a final decision on whether to go that route. It’s a determination he expects to be complete by the time the case is presented to a Lauderdale County grand jury for indictment.

    “That’s something we are still discussing and exploring,” Davidson said. “And it’s something we will be discussing with the family. We want to get through the evaluation process first.”

    Attorneys set another status hearing date in the case for Nov. 21. They’re hoping they can have the evaluation report in at that time and set a date for a preliminary hearing.

    Lawyers for Watson declined to comment after Wednesday’s hearing.

    https://www.kait8.com/2019/09/26/att...rators-murder/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Curtis Watson writes about his escape: "All I can say is I was headed to visit my mother's grave."

    Watson writes that he didn't kill Debra Johnson

    By Nick Beres
    News Channel 5 Nashville

    LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — Why did Curtis Watson escape from prison and then allegedly commit murder?

    There was a huge manhunt after Watson escaped from the West Tennessee State Penitentiary in Lauderdale County in August.He's accused of killing TN corrections administrator Debra Johnson, and Watson has been writing about his escape and his time on the run.

    What suddenly drove him to escape? He explains in a series of letters written to his family -- and obtained by Tennessee River Valley News and NewsChannel 5.

    In one he talks about the death of his mother: "I was doing okay on my healing and moving on until mom passed. Then all of it came rushing back and anger was leading. All I can say is I was headed to visit my mother's grave."

    After the five days on the run Watson writes of just giving up, I "went on foot for as far as I could...I couldn't walk no more. When you saw them put me in the van I was in pain...barely walking on some torn up feet."

    The TBI said during the manhunt that Watson was running and hiding. Watson wrote he "did not know all those people were looking for me, and did not know there was a reward."

    He says nothing about encountering Johnson -- the woman he accused of sexually assaulting and killing, writing, "I'm no murderer, wrong guy."

    But Watson also admitted to being at Johnson's home: "I can't prove my innocence because I escaped...was at her home." And, Watson only mentions Johnson by name once writing: "God Bless Debra Johnson's Family."

    Much of Watson letter is rambling where he blames others for his problems. He concedes he escaped, but, denies committing murder.

    Watson is currently undergoing a mental evaluation while awaiting a trial that could lead to the death penalty.

    These letters could be used as evidence in the case.

    https://www.newschannel5.com/news/cu...-mothers-grave
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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