David Watson is accused of killing his ex-wife, her mother and her mothers friend. Linda Watson, Marilyn Cox and ReNe Farnsworth were strong women who were dearly loved, their families say. All rights reserved. A notice of appeal was filed in May 2017, but the court of appeals affirmed in a 3-0 decision in November 2019. Preceded in death by: Mother & Father, Grace and Hubert Crowder; Son, Dwayne Watson; Daughter Teresa Lynn Watson; Sister, Marie Murr; Brothers, J.W. You have permission to edit this article. Its not over until she hears the word guilty from a judge, she said. Also in 2003, Cox and Farnsworth were shot and killed at Cox's home on the northwest side of Tucson. Watson will complete his 16-year sentence in April 2031. Jordynn testified she did not remember much about that time either. Going through the trial I learned a lot about her life. He asked Bernini to give him concurrent sentences so maybe I can be back with my kids, he said as he choked up. April 27, 2015 / 10:35 AM Our family is overjoyed that David finally is behind bars. On March 17, 2017, the former firefighter was found guilty of one count of second-degree murder (Linda) and two counts of first-degree murder (Marilyn and Renee). The jury also found him guilty of the second-degree murder of his ex-wife Linda Watson, who was reported missing in August 2000 at age 35. Linda Watson's mother, Marilyn Cox, then became involved in civil litigation with David Watson to get unsupervised visitation rights with the couple's only daughter. I told Marilyn I will see this through, she said. Bernini cautioned that no matter what sentence she handed down, there is no closure to anyone whose lives were hopelessly shattered by Watsons crimes. Why didnt they arrest David Watson sooner? Families of 3 slaying victims share their stories | Local news | tucson.com Skip to main content Skip to main content Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of the victims.. Inside, there was a broken coffee cup and traces of her blood. Three years later, Cox was also fighting David Watson for custody of her granddaughter when she was gunned down. He's charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Prior to sentencing, Watsons trial attorneys, Michael Storie and Natasha Wrae, filed a motion seeking yet a third trial. A cup lay smashed on the floor near the entryway, but there was no trace of the single mother, save for a fewdrops of her blood hidden underneath a garbage bag. I just wanted to let her know shes got a huge family, Hinkle said. Murder trial began on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2016. If for some reason this man is released, we dont want him to be able to guess the identities of our witnesses from the information weve released, he said. Prosecutors claim Watson killed the women over child custody disputes. He must then serve at least 25 years of each life sentence before being eligible for release. Survivors include: husband of 62 years, David Watson; daughter, Ginger Watson; son & daughter-in-law, Kimery & Teresa Watson; granddaughter, Taylor Watson; brothers, Claude & Mary. Opening statements begin in murder trial of former Tucson fire captain, Update: What led to the arrest of David Watson, David Watson pleads not guilty to 3 murder charges. View David Dwayne Watson results in North Carolina (NC) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Neither had any idea their lives would intertwine in this way. Keep reading with a digital access subscription. Linda Watsons body was found in 2003 in Pima County, but it took several years before the remains were identified. "Throughout the entire investigation for 15 years, he has been our primary suspect.". They didn't have enough evidence until four days ago to arrest Watson and accuse him of murder in Linda's death and in the 2003 deaths of Linda's mother and her mother's friend. There is a darker nature to all of us, but some people hide it better than others, and Watsons darker nature rendered him capable of the murders, she said. Court documents state that she was "lying on the living room floor, nude with her arms above her head." The Sheriffs deputy said David Watson has worked for the Tucson Fire Department since 1995 and was promotedin 2007 to captain. Before sentencing Monday, Pima County Superior Court Judge Deborah Bernini denied Watsons request for a new trial. 15-year-old murder mystery ends with the arrest of a Tucson fire captain. Dont forget the boatload of fees. Read More:Where is David Watsons Daughter Jordynn Watson Now? Aug. 20, 2000: Linda Watson is last seen by her mother. She took the stand Friday afternoon, called by the prosecution. In 2000, Linda Watson, Watsons ex-wife, disappeared during a custody fight over their daughter. Three years after her disappearance her remains were found in the Tucson mountains, the remains were verified more than 2 years later. On Wednesday, Watson resigned his post at the Tucson Fire Department. She spoke candidly about her fathers case and her hopes for the future. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Murder suspect's ex-wife: "She needs to disappear", New photos released in Watson investigation, Three women lost their lives and their lives mattered". Both said Watson did not show any violent or aggressive behavior in school, but that he had a different personality back then. On trial in deaths of ex-wife, her mother and her friend. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME. In November 2016, the first trial concluded with a hung jury, and a second trial was commenced in January 2017. Basically, just a lot of hard work. Hinkle said she expected Watson to be arrested someday, but after years of waiting and hoping, there were times she felt like she had given up. The next day, a repairman found Lindas backdoor unlocked, along with signs of struggle, including a broken cup and some blood. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. She said she isnt the kind of person to resent. The ride was similarly bumpy and emotional for the family members of Farnsworth, who they say was close to Cox and had wanted to keep her safe when she was brutally ripped from our lives, according to Brady, Farnsworths daughter. Wrae asked that Watson be sentenced to the minimum term, which would have been concurrent sentences with the possibility of release after 25 years in prison. Watson, a captain with the Tucson Fire Department, was booked into Pima County jail on three counts of first-degree murder with a $2 million bond, reports CBS affiliate KOLD. Deputy County Attorney Jonathan Mosher said Watson showed severe disregard for the value of human life and asked that he be sentenced to the remainder of his natural life. Back in 2000, Pima County Sheriff's Deputies investigated Watson's first wife Linda's disappearance . A Pima County Superior Court judge handed down that sentence in 2017. Prosecutors charge him with the murders of Linda Watson, Marilyn Cox andReNee Farnsworth. While Jordynn was with her father at that time, her mother was nowhere to be found. He must first serve the 16-year sentence and 25 years each of the life sentences. In January 2021, David filed yet another appeal for a third trial, stating prosecutorial misconduct as the primary reason, but the court upheld its previous judgment. "We believe we have the right man," Nanos said. The Coxfamily has also insisted all along that David Watson was involved in the murders. Father of the 13-year-old boy contacted police last weekabout the teacher. IRS Reminds Taxpayers of April 18 Tax-Filing Deadline, Sen. Jeff Flake Faces Hostility At AZ Town Hall, ARIZONA DAILY INDEPENDENT LLC Contact Us: 6929 North Hayden Road C4 #291, Scottsdale, AZ, 85250 (520) 906-8081. In 2009: Bones were found near the Tucson Mountains. Moreover, Linda was highly loved by her family and friends and focused solely on giving a good life to Jordynn as a single mother. First published on April 27, 2015 / 10:35 AM. He filed a petition for review to the Arizona Supreme Court in January, and in August the justices ordered the court of appeals to reconsider one portion of their ruling. A few months later, Lindas corpse was found in the desert mountains west of the city. She was in a bitter custody battle with David Watson over their daughter. 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Sheriff's. Curt has been with the Star since 2015. The Tucson Fire Department is saddened to learn about the circumstances related to one of our employees, fire departmentspokesman Barrett Baker said. About four years ago, she decided it was time to relieve herself of the weight by forgiving the man who she believed had killed her sister and niece. The catalyst for the supreme courts action is an opinion the justices issued in July in another Pima County murder case, State v. Vargas. High around 55F. David Watson was born on 10 March 1940 in London, England, UK. Chief Deputy Chris Nanos praised the department for not giving up on the case. Crowder, Wade Crowder, Ray Crowder, Glen Crowder. The bombshell testimony that put Watson behind bars came from his ex-wife Rosemary Watson who he married after Linda went missing. On April 17, 2017, David was sentenced to 66 years in prison, comprising a 16-year sentence for Lindas murder and one 25 years to life sentence each for the other two murders. Aug. 23, 2000: Linda Watson never shows up to pick up her daughter from David Watson. People are abandoning pets at airports. Linda Watson's mother, Marilyn Cox, then became involved in civil litigation with David Watson to get unsupervised visitation rights with the couple's only daughter. He now is the Opinion editor at the Star. Linda and her former husband, firefighter David Watson, had been fighting over the custody of their daughter, Jordynn, to the extent that she was supposedly planning to file a restraining order against him. She and her family were at the Pima County Fair when a detective called to let them know about David Watsons arrest. Thus, David became the primary suspect for all three murders, as Linda and Marilyns family, as well as the authorities, believed that he had likely killed them over Jordynns custody, while 53-year-old Renee was slain possibly because she was accompanying her friend. Copyright 2016 Tucson News Now. Copyright 2016 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Weve waited for 15 years for this justice, but it is also bittersweet,Hinklesaid. The closing read: Her spirit has found the way. Way up high. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I hated what he did.. The 12 years since her death in May 2003 were difficult for Brady and her family, she said. The 23-year-old talks to her father twice a week and visits him at the prison in Winslow on a regular basis. . Fast forward to May seventh, 2003: Cox and her neighbor were gunned down in a drive-by shooting at the very home where Linda Watson disappeared. Actor: Beneath the Planet of the Apes. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Rosemary recanted a statement to investigators that destroyed David's alibi. Her father, David Watson, on trial for her mother's murder, her grandma and another . He was 42. The Friday night shootings at an upscale restaurant shocked Tucson but are just the latest of many domestic-violence killings. Suitt said his department is worried that releasing more details on the breakthroughmight backfire. The Associated Press contributed to this report. If the murder of mother and daughter in the same spot wasnt enough of a coincidence, both women were involved in legal battleswith the same man when they died: David Dwayne Watson, Lindas ex-husband. Well keep tracking you, well find you and you will get punished for the crimes you do.. The next morning,a repairman stopped by her house on a sandy stretch of road in Tucson and found thebackdoor open. Her mother had moved in since she vanished. He filed an appeal in court the next month, but it was rejected after deliberation in November 2019. After Linda Watson disappeared, these three wouldn't cede control to David Watson. The two women were close friends and neighbors. The Pima County Sheriff's Department arrested David Dwayne Watson, 46, in connection with three murder cases. "The hardest thing for me is you have this conception of how court works you come in everyone gets to hear all of the evidence and the jury decides upon everything that's not the way it works at all. Her mother and grandmother are looking down disgusted at the investigation and trial, where a lot of untruths were told. Amid a bitter custody battle between the formerly married couple, Linda Watson went missing in August 2000. We are all still in a kind of shock; after so many years we sometimes felt it would never happen.. Linda Watson's ex-husband arrested in her 2000 killing, two others. Earlier this year, David Dwayne Watson was convicted of two counts of First Degree Murder and one count of Second Degree Murder. A 16-year-old cold case heads to trial Wednesday. For 15 years, David Watson was the main suspect in the slayings. There are 85 witnesses testifying including Watson's daughter and his ex-wife's son. She was seven when her grandmother, Marilyn Cox, and Renee Farnsworth were gunned down after dropping Jordynn off at David Watson's home in 2003. In a video posted on social media, Dwayne Johnson reveals that his daughter Tia's favorite song is none other than Dale Watson's "Daughter's Wedding Song" from Dale's 2013 album Rancho Azul. Nonetheless, it was only on April 25, 2015, that David Watson was finally arrested in connection to the three deaths, thus putting an end to the lengthy investigation. He died on 5 October 2014 in New York, USA. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Former Tucson Fire Captain David Dwayne Watson is going on trial for the deaths of three women, including his ex-wife. Marilyn Cox plastered posters around town promising a reward for information about her daughters disappearance. Watson, 48, was convicted of one count of second-degree murder in the 2000 death of Linda Watson, 35. Jordynn Watsonsaid she did not remember much about the time around when her mother disappeared. We wanted her to know that she had support, that we hadnt abandoned her.. Lindas skull was found in 2003, and was identified as hers in 2011. Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. The Arizona State University Psychology major is planning to finish her degree and is looking forward to someday becoming a wife, as she continues to wait for the appeals process in her fathers case. On Saturday, Marilyn Coxs sister, Pat Hinkle, releaseda statement expressing shock and joy over the long-awaited arrest, but also a hint of frustrationthat the arrest took so long when all the clues seemed to be there from the beginning. I will always miss my sister, she said. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. Victims included his ex-wife Lin. Though the couple was embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their 4-year-old child, Linda received a lot of support from her mother, Marilyn Cox, who formerly lived in Rushville and frequently visited the former. 2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. In August 2000, Tucson native Linda Watson vanished out of the blue, but it was not until three years later that her corpse was discovered far away from home in the desert. It all started with the disappearance of Linda Watson on August 20, 2000. In October 2016, David Watson was put to trial for the murders of Linda Watson, Marilyn Cox, and Renee Farnsworth. A former Tucson Fire Department captain likely will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his ex-wife, her mother and her mothers friend. For purposes of appeal, prosecutorial misconduct is defined as intentional conduct which the prosecutor knows to be improper and prejudicial and which is not merely the result of legal error, negligence, mistake, or insignificant impropriety.. On May 7, 2003, 63-year-old Marilyn and her neighbor and friend, Renee Farnsworth, were fatally shot dead in the formers driveway by an unidentified assailant. TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - The young woman at the center of a custody battle 16-years ago took the stand on Friday. View their profile including current address, phone number 248-814-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. Former Tucson Fire Captain David Dwayne Watson is going on trial for the deaths of three women, including his ex-wife. 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