Inmate says in letter that he killed 2 molesters in prison
Watson, who is serving a life sentence for a 2009 murder conviction, wrote that six days after he arrived at the prison, a child molester moved into the pod. Watson believed the man began taunting other inmates by watching children’s television programming.
“I could not sleep having not done what every instinct told me I should’ve done right then and there, so I packed all of my things because I knew one way or another the situation would be resolved the following day,” he wrote.
Two hours before the attacks the next day, Watson told a prison counselor that he urgently needed to be transferred back to higher-level security “before I really (expletive) one of these dudes up,” but the counselor “scoffed and dismissed” him, the letter says.
Watson said he returned to his housing pod.
“I was mulling it all over when along came Molester #1 and he put his TV right on PBS Kids again,” he wrote, according to the newspaper chain. “But this time, someone else said something to the effect of ‘Is this guy really going to watch this right in front of us?’ and I recall saying, ‘I got this.’ And I picked up the cane and went to work on him.”
Watson said he then left the housing pod to find a guard and turn himself in, but on the way, he saw “a known child trafficker, and I figured I’d just do everybody a favor,” Watson wrote. “In for a penny, in for a pound.”
Watson said he then told a guard, who didn’t believe him “until he looked around the corner and saw the mess I’d left in the dorm area,” Watson wrote.
Every one of us gets put into the same categories as rapists and child molesters and pedophiles. But other things such as peeing outside or a woman going topless can also get people placed on the registries.
Even those put in the catagory as a child molester might actually be innocent …in the case of an angry ex-wife from a he said, she said… the courts will always error on the side of the woman and he’s convicted without actusl evidance. While in prison the guy gets murdered. The other issue are those that are mentally ill with a mind of a 7 year old while at age 45
And the guy who was in there for killing someone or maybe even multiple someone’s is any better? Funny how murderers get a pass for some reason and are admired by other inmates.
Be careful on placing too much judgment on others. There are people who have been classified as “rapists”, “child molesters”, and “pedophiles” that are not all the demons that some would have them to be.
Because of a new law in North Carolina (and already past in other states), some will be classified as rapists that are not truly a rapist, not even close. Lauren Book is trying to get the same law passed in Florida.
As far as child molesters go, there are plenty of grandfathers that have never broken a law in their life but come down with some form of dementia and eventually touch a grandchild inappropriately. Depending upon which study you read, people with frontotemporal dementia will break a law 14% to 40% of the time. The unfortunate part about this type of dementia is that the crime occurs first before the dementia becomes blatantly obvious to the family. In frontotemporal dementia, judgment is part of the frontal lobe that is being damaged. Alzheimer’s patients get the dementia first and then commit a crime, if they even do commit a crime. Their crime rate is 8%. The crimes usually committed with both types of dementia are: public urination, exposure, leaving the scene of an accident that they caused, and child molestation.
In addition, we live in the state of Florida where there is no differentiation between touching over or under the cloth. I was reading the other day of a state where inappropriately touching a child under 12 years of age OVER the cloth is a third degree misdemeanor. If it is a first-time offense in Florida, it is a third degree felony punishable by 25 years to life. In California, I read it is probation to 18 months for a first-time offense.
As for pedophiles, the research is so limited in this area — no one seems to want to “waste” their time on it — no one cares. I have already shared previously at this FAC website, but feel it is appropriate to bring it up again, about a study in Europe where either 8 or 12 known pedophiles had some type of brain imaging done, along with the same number of “normal” people. All “pedophiles” had one particular part of their brain showing up smaller than the same part of the brain of the control group. In addition, all pedophiles either had more or less gray matter on that particular part of the brain compared to the control group. We also read of known pedophiles who say that thoughts they have cannot be controlled. What little evidence that is out there says to me that they are mentally ill and more research needs to be done to help these people. The answer is not locking them all up in prison or confinement.
People charged with CP always say they did not have a victim. I have stated before at this website that I do not feel the solution to this crime is arresting viewers. The New York Times article on this issue last fall shows that arresting viewers is NOT working. But there are victims in viewing. Every time a picture or video is viewed, the child is further victimized, including when law enforcement sends out such images. If we are going to arrest individual viewers, then we should be arresting law enforcement officers for what they are doing to the victims. But this is not the answer; I believe that channeling all of our resources toward going after the producers, including in other countries, is where the answer lies. If there are no pictures, then there will be no viewing and no victims.
We all know that how this country (and particularly the state of Florida) is dealing with “sex offenses” is beyond absurd. It is a big money maker for some and a tool used by politicians to get re-elected. But hopefully within our FAC group, we can refrain from passing judgment on others. I do not care what someone did — it could be a full blown violent rape — if that person serves time, is repentant of what they did, and becomes a law-abiding citizen, then I say they deserve a second chance without the past always being put before them.
SarahF, your insight is awesome and your ability to convey the message causes me to envy you. I’ve felt so bottled up for so long trying get this point across. You have done an awesome job. Thank you.
For so long I have felt that there wasn’t any understanding even from most others at FAC. I’m not a pedophile, even though because of my crime very many people attached that label to me. I have never found children to be sexually appealing. Mine was a long issue of totally destroyed moral barriers. And an overwhelming need to be loved and accepted! The courts or noone else could punish me as much as I did myself after I committed this offense. I long ago concluded that self punishment did nothing to help the problem. Then I decided to do everything I could do to become a man who could look in the mirror and say I was happy with who I see there!!! I will never again compromise the man I’ve become. I’ve always known I deserve a second chance and if I ever got that chance not would I never blow it but I would also do everything that God would allow me to help others to make this whole problem better on both sides. Your words have giving me assurance to fight on a little longer thank you!!!
You bring tears of joy to my eyes, Shlepp Rock. Most days I am upbeat, but today has been a down day for me in all of this. You have helped me to pick myself up again and keep on trying. Thanks.
This is a must-read, SarahF. Thanks again for educating us all.
It’s a reminder, among other things, that we not fall into the trap of labeling someone by the worst thing they’ve ever done, then punish them for what we label them. That’s the mistaken type of thinking engaged in by our adversaries.
The Appeal reporter Joshua Vaughn was on the same page as you when he tweeted, in response to this story, the following:
“In what other possible context would we ever refer to murder victims like this?
The story is that the state failed in protecting the people it was entrusted to protect and yet the entire reference to the victims is to call them merely ‘child molesters’
Do better.“
A prisoner sent to Big Muddy correctional center in Illinois was still in the receiving pod during his first week and brutally assaulted his cell-mate because he learned he was a registered sex offender. He was put in segregation and transferred in a “seg to seg” transfer to Western Correctional Center in October 2017 and placed into segregation cell 29 that housed another RSO. It is believed by me that this violent man was purposely placed into the cell with the RSO to kill the RSO to cover up the incident where correctional officer Alex Banta had kicked the RSO inmate until he had life-threatening internal injuries and 4 broken ribs. Alex Banta is currently awaiting trial for the murder of inmate Larry Earvin who died after being kicking him in the ribs. https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil/pr/three-illinois-prison-guards-indicted-charges-inmate-assault-resulting-death-and
They allow this to happen so we keep taking plea “bargains” (even when innocent) rather than risk a death sentence in prison at the hands of convicted killers.
This is not the way it should work in America!
why is anyone surprised? i sure he made up the part about the guy watching children’s show’s to make it look like he had what he thought was a reason to kill a man. Any RSO inside know’s to keep they eyes open at all times and give no one a reason to go off on them so his story sounds like a load of bullchit to me, but RSO’s are targeted in every prison some with the blessing of the guards no matter the crime
I was 9 years in prison. Sex bat on a minor. Not once was I subject to an attack of any kind. I agree that story was embellished, at least as far as the “he put his TV right on PBS Kids again,” he wrote, according to the newspaper chain. “But this time, someone else said something to the effect of ‘Is this guy really going to watch this right in front of us?’ and I recall saying, ‘I got this.’ And I picked up the cane and went to work on him.” There may be more embellishment. However, I am not sure why he sent the letter? To what purpose?
It’s quite obvious that this guy has some serious anger issues.
I see the comments on Facebook about this story and it makes me sick. Every comment was encouragement for murderers such as this. Unfortunately these comments are from people I know. Someone called him a hero for murdering the men in prison, who were already being punished for their crimes. Someone mentioned setting up a GoFundMe account for him as a reward. I want to be the voice of reason for these people, but if I speak up I will become the target. I expect someone will request that my Facebook account be cancelled.
but if I speak up I will become the target. I expect someone will request that my Facebook account be cancelled.
Since you know this would happen, call them out on it before hand and then speak your mind. I’d call them out on politics and religion as well since I’m sure such encouragement for murder is coming from both sides of the fence; The religious conservatives and the “tolerant” liberals.
Having grown up in the church, I love my Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, as well as all people as one day they could see the light and come into the fold.
Having said that, Christians are human, they are people and not perfect and that shows quite well when a Christian treats someone badly, for example someone on the registry.
What is funny is, I have a lady down the street whose husband is on the registry. ( He does not live on my street ). She is jealous that I am not listed as a predator like her husband is so she took it upon herself to notify everyone on my street about me because HER husband had to when he lived here. Not sure why he moved, the details were sketchy. Might be because we are so close to a school.
She also tells every new person who moves onto the street. What is ever more odd, she tries to pretend to be my friend and stops and talks to me when I am in the yard. I play along but don’t tell her any of my business.
I’m sorry, but that whole recidivism thing about murderers being lower than us, just to me doesn’t stick. I have seen way too many instances, where murderers have committed multiple times before and after being caught, and that’s provided they are actually even caught. Yeah there are those who might do it one time and never again, but many can and will do it over and over if allowed.