Prosecutors seeking death penalty for prison escapee accused of killing DOC administrator
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Tenn. (WMC) - A west Tennessee prisoner accused of murdering a prison administrator last year could get the death penalty if convicted.
Earlier this month, a grand jury indicted Curtis Watson on 15 counts, including first-degree murder, aggravated rape and aggravated kidnapping.
Watson appeared in a Lauderdale County courtroom Tuesday afternoon where a judge formally read his charges and prosecutors announced they are seeking the death penalty.
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“It’s the ultimate punishment and we reserve it for the worst of the worst,” said District Attorney Mark Davidson. “And this case has several factors that apply that make it fit into that category.”
Davidson says prosecutors filed a notice Tuesday morning seeking the death penalty. They cited six reasons under Tennessee state law for why they chose the punishment.
The defendant was previously convicted of one (1) or more felonies, other than the present charge, whose statutory elements involve the use of violence to the person;
The murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding, interfering with, or preventing a lawful arrest or prosecution of the defendant or another;
The murder was knowingly committed, solicited, directed, or aided by the defendant, while the defendant had a substantial role in committing or attempting to commit, or was fleeing after having a substantial role in committing or attempting to commit, any first degree murder, arson, rape, robbery, burglary, theft, kidnapping, aggravated child abuse, aggravated child neglect, rape of a child, aggravated rape of a child, aircraft piracy, or unlawful throwing, placing or discharging of a destructive device or bomb;
The murder was committed by the defendant while the defendant was in lawful custody or in a place of lawful confinement or during the defendant’s escape from lawful custody or from a place of lawful confinement;
The murder was committed against any law enforcement officer, corrections official, corrections employee, probation and parole officer, emergency medical or rescue worker, emergency medical technician, paramedic or firefighter, who was engaged in the performance of official duties, and the defendant knew or reasonably should have known that the victim was a law enforcement officer, corrections official, corrections employee, probation and parole officer, emergency medical or rescue worker, emergency medical technician, paramedic or firefighter engaged in the performance of official duties;
The murder was committed at random and the reasons for the killing are not obvious or easily understood.
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Investigators say Watson was a prison trusty in August 2019 when he sexually assaulted and killed 64-year-old prison administrator Debra Johnson at her home on the grounds of the West Tennessee State Penitentiary. He then escaped and was the target of a five-day manhunt.
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“We believe if we go to trial on this case that this is a case worth of seeking the death penalty for justice for the family and the victim,” said Davidson.
The DA says prosecutors discussed the death penalty with Johnson’s family, who are aware of the process because of her lengthy career in law enforcement.
“They’re very familiar with the criminal justice system and the process, and they seem pretty knowledgeable about all of that, so I’d say they’re in a better position that most families, really, to know what’s going on and to understand it and deal with it,” said Davidson.
Watson was ordered to undergo a mental evaluation in September. Davidson says the evaluation found Watson competent to stand trial and not insane at the time of Johnson’s murder.
The judge scheduled the trial to begin Oct. 26.
Watson is being represented by a public defender. We reached out for a comment but have not heard back.
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