Family and officials react after escapee’s capture
The daughter of Curtis Watson offered thanks to law enforcement in a statement issued Sunday shortly after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced it had captured the escaped inmate accused of murdering and sexually assaulting a prison official.
“The family of Curtis Watson would like to extend their deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to the family of Ms Debra Johnson,” said the statement from Harley Pole, Watson’s daughter.
The family also thanked law enforcement and asked for privacy.
“We also want to thank the Lauderdale County Sheriffs Department, TBI, FBI, US Marshals and every law enforcement agency who assisted in the apprehension today,” the family’s statement said.
“We pray for all of the TDOC staff who have been impacted by this overwhelming turn of events as well as the communities that have been terrorized for almost a week. We thank everyone who has helped to keep us safe and informed of the developments this last week. At this time, we ask for privacy as we continue to deal with this adversity.”
The statement was conveyed via Rickey Alexander, a spokesman for the family of murder and kidnapping victim Holly Bobo. Alexander served as a liaison between missing person families and law enforcement in
West Tennessee.
Governor, state officials react
Gov. Bill Lee and other Tennessee officials tweeted their thanks to law enforcement officials involved in the intense five-day manhunt.
“Tremendous news that this fugitive is back in custody,” Lee tweeted.
Tony Parker, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction, tweeted “Mission complete!”
State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-memphis, also thanked law enforcement, saying in a tweet she hadn’t “been able to shake my sadness for Debra Johnson & her family.”
Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett tweeted his own praise of law enforcement.
Sen. Ken Yager, R-kingston praised the “outstanding effort” by state law enforcement agencies in apprehending Watson.
How it happened
Johnson, 64, was found dead in her home on the grounds of the West Tennessee State Penitentiary on Wednesday. Law enforcement officials said she was strangled.
Watson, 44, was captured on Sunday morning after a five-day manhunt. He went missing from the grounds of the penitentiary where he was serving a 15year sentence on an especially aggravated kidnapping charge
Johnson was found dead 30 minutes after prison officials discovered Watson was gone.
TBI officials announced on Thursday they secured warrants against Watson on first-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated sexual battery charges in relation to Johnson’s death.