William Christopher Watts

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Douglas County District Attorney David McDade announces a guilty plea in the State’s case against William Christopher Watts for the attempted murder of his wife. Watts was sentenced to Life in Prison and will not be eligible for parole for the next 30 years. “This case exemplifies how dangerous domestic violence situations can become,” stated McDade.

Watts was charged with kidnapping with bodily injury, attempted murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, rape and aggravated sodomy for the brutal attack on his wife in their home on September 11, 2008.

Assistant District Attorney Jeff Gore, who handled the plea, stated in Court that Mr. Watts had a history of being emotionally, physically and verbally abusive towards his wife over the course of their 10 year marriage. About a year before the attack, his wife decided she was tired of the abuse and went back to school to get a job so that she could leave her husband and financially support herself.

Thirteen days before the attack, Watts and his wife got into another altercation, at which point she and their children moved out of the family home. Mr. Watts then repeatedly tried to convince her that he was sorry and to please come back home.

On the morning of September 11, Mr. Watts showed up at the home where his wife was staying and removed a tire from her car. He then told her that she had a flat tire, and that she would have to ride with him back to their marital home in order to get the extra car. His wife reluctantly agreed and got in the car with him. After they arrived, Mr. Watts went inside the home while his wife waited in the driveway. Mr. Watts then led his wife to believe that he could not find the keys to the extra car at which time she went inside the home where she was raped and brutally attacked.

During the attack, Mr. Watts cut his wife a dozen times with a large butcher knife, and beat her with a lamp and a large rock. She suffered extensive blood loss from cuts to an artery in her arm and a jugular vein in her neck. Mr. Watts then cut his own wrists in an apparent suicide attempt.

Mr. Watts then called his mother for help instead of calling 911. His mother arrived at the home about twenty minutes later and called 911. While his mother was talking to the 911 operator, Mr. Watts refused to put down the knife and repeatedly told her that “he was not going to jail.” After a brief standoff with Sheriff’s deputies in the front lawn, Mr. Watts was taken into custody, and his wife was life-flighted to Atlanta Medical Center, where she remained in the hospital for several weeks.

“Domestic violence continues to be a problem nationwide. This victim was fortunate enough to survive and by prosecuting her attacker we hope that this sends a message to other domestic violence perpetrators that in Douglas County this type of behavior will not be tolerated.,” stated McDade.