By Phillip Jackson, Memphis Commercial Appeal, Aug 9, 2019

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.

Read the full story at Commercial Appeal