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U.S. NEWS Monday 12 august 2019
Escaped Tennessee

inmate captured

after 5-day manhunt

By JOHN RABY of Corrections administra-
Associated Press tor employee at her home
A Tennessee convict sus- Wednesday at the West
pected of killing a correc- Tennessee State Peniten-
tions administrator before tiary.
escaping prison on a trac- TBI said Watson escaped
tor was captured Sunday prison grounds, and the
seven hours after home- tractor was found nearby.
owners recognized him on Authorities launched an in-
their outdoor surveillance tense manhunt after Debra
camera, authorities said. Johnson's body was found
Curtis Ray Watson put his with a cord wrapped
hands up and was arrested around her neck Wednes- This undated photo provided by the Tennessee Bureau of Inves-
as he came out of a soy- day morning. tigation shows Curtis Ray Watson.
bean field Sunday in the Rewards totaling $57,000 Associated Press
west Tennessee commu- were offered for informa-
nity of Henning, Tennessee tion leading to Watson's court documents showed. been convicted of aggra-
Bureau of Investigation Di- arrest. "Tremendous news His sentence began in 2013 vated child abuse in Car-
rector David Rausch said that this fugitive is back in and was set to expire in roll County. His sentence in
at a news conference. The custody," Tennessee Gov. 2025, officials said. that case expired in 2011,
capture ended a five-day Bill Lee said on Twitter. Watson had previously officials said.q
manhunt. Watson was discovered
The field is 10 miles (16 ki- missing about 11 a.m.
lometers) from the prison Wednesday, several hours
Watson escaped from after he was seen near the
Wednesday and near a house where the 64-year-
home where he was seen old Johnson lived on prison
on a surveillance camera grounds.
earlier Sunday, Rausch According to a TBI affidavit,
said. The homeowners Watson had been released
called police after one of temporarily for mowing du-
them recognized Watson ties at 7 a.m. earlier that
from police-issued photos. day, and had access to a
Photos provided by the res- golf cart and a tractor. As a
idents' camera show Wat- "trusty" at the prison, he was
son, 41, dressed in cam- allowed to use the equip-
ouflage bib overalls and a ment and had to wear a
hat and carrying a camp reflective vest while work-
backpack. Dozens of offi- ing on prison grounds.
cers mobilized in the area Phone records show John-
after the sighting. son was talking on the
"He had made the com- phone at 8:10 a.m., just 20
ment that he knew he minutes before corrections
wasn't getting away be- workers saw Watson in a
cause of the number of law golf cart at her house, ac-
enforcement," Rausch said. cording to the affidavit. He
Lauderdale County Dis- drove away from the prison
trict Attorney Mark David- sometime between 9 and
son said Watson will be 10 a.m. on a tractor, the af-
arraigned this week on fidavit said.
charges of first-degree When Johnson didn't show
murder, especially aggra- up for work, co-workers dis-
vated burglary, aggra- covered Johnson's body
vated sexual battery and at her home at 11:30 a.m.,
escape. Davidson said the according to the affidavit.
death penalty will be un- The medical examiner de-
der consideration."I can as- clared her death a homi-
sure you that our office will cide by strangulation, the
be resolved to see that he affidavit said.
is put back where he can Watson had been serving
never escape again and a 15-year sentence after
harm anybody in our com- pleading guilty to especial-
munities," Davidson said. ly aggravated kidnapping
Watson was on lawn mow- in Henry County. Watson
ing duty when the TBI says illegally confined his wife
he sexually assaulted and while using an aluminum
strangled a Department baseball bat in July 2012,