On a cold December night in 2017, the lives of two young men were tragically cut short in Mobile, Alabama. Just before midnight on December 21st, 20-year-old Kenneth Foster and his friend, 19-year-old James Rutledge, were found deceased in front of a residence on the 2100 block of Felix Street. Both men had been shot and killed.
The Mobile Police Department launched an investigation into the double homicide.
Their efforts, in conjunction with tips from the community, led to a breakthrough in the case. Less than a month later, on January 10, 2018, police arrested 21-year-old Darrell Watts and charged him with two counts of murder.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Watts used a revolver to shoot both Foster and Rutledge. Following the shootings, Watts reportedly stole a gun and keys from Foster's pocket. The case proceeded to trial, where a Mobile County jury deliberated on the evidence presented.
In March 2024, the jury found Darrell Watts guilty of the murders of Kenneth Foster and James Rutledge. Following the conviction, a Mobile County Circuit Judge sentenced Watts to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Relatives of Kenneth Foster expressed their relief after the verdict was announced, stating that after a long seven years, justice had finally been served for their loved one.
