Names of Cairo Bank Robbery Victims Released

By West Kentucky Star Staff

CAIRO, IL -

Illinois State Police officials have released the names of two victims who died during an armed robbery at First National Bank in Cairo.

According to police, 52-year-old Anita J. Grace of Olive Branch, IL and 52-year-old Nita J. Smith, of Wickliffe, KY died from injuries received during the robbery. The name of a third victim who remains in critical condition has not been released.

At around 5:15 pm Thursday, Cairo police responded to a call of a robbery in progress at the bank, and discovered three women severely wounded in the employee break room. Detectives said the preliminary investigation showed that an armed man approached the women in the parking lot as the bank was closing. The man reportedly forced the women back inside the bank, where Grace and Smith suffered fatal stab wounds.

A 23-year-old female employee was also stabbed, and is in critical condition.

“While we commend the quick response of all of the officers and first responders, there are no words to express this tragic and senseless violence against these innocent victims and loyal employees,” said ISP Director Hiram Grau. “We deployed every resource possible to quickly apprehend this offender and to ensure that the community and the public were safe.” Grau added.

Police said the suspect, 29-year-old James Nathaniel Watts of Cairo, fled the scene south towards Missouri in one of the victim’s vehicles. State police later located the vehicle on I-57, and followed it into Illinois, near the Canadian Northern Rail tracks. Watts reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot on top of a railroad trestle, where he was surrounded by officers.

Within 45 minutes, Watts was apprehended by ISP patrol officers and investigators, Alexander County deputies, and FBI agents. Police said Watts was armed with a semi-automatic handgun.

Watts remains in custody in Marion, IL.

Multiple agencies were involved in responding and securing the scene including Illinois State Police Districts 13, 22, and Zone 7 Investigations, ISP Crime Scene Services, ISP SWAT, ISP Air Operations, ISP Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center, Alexander County Sheriff’s Department, Cape Girardeau Police Department, Cairo Police and Fire Departments, Metropolis Police and Fire Departments, Pulaski County Police, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Ballard County, KY Sheriff’s Department, Kentucky State Police, and Missouri Highway Patrol.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also participated in the investigation. The case is under investigation by federal authorities.