In the quiet suburbs of Alexandria, Virginia, the life of 22-year-old Cory Watts came to a tragic end on a summer evening, July 10, 1985. Cory, a young man, had been living with a severe disability for three years following a devastating motorcycle accident in 1982 that left him with a serious head injury. His life, and that of his family, had been irrevocably altered by the crash, leading them down a path of legal battles and mounting emotional and financial strain.
On that fateful Wednesday, the Watts family received the crushing news that they had lost a $10 million lawsuit against the manufacturer of the helmet Cory was wearing during his accident. The verdict, delivered by a federal jury in Alexandria, seemed to be the final blow for Cory's mother, Cordelia Watts. Described as a strong and stoic woman who had fiercely advocated for her son, she was reportedly distraught by the outcome of the trial.
That evening, in what appeared to be a moment of utter despair, Cordelia sent her husband, Roy, out to get food. In his absence, she took her son to their backyard and shot him before turning the gun on herself. Neighbors reported hearing the gunshots and witnessing the horrific scene. When police arrived, they found Cory gravely wounded and his mother deceased. Cory was rushed to Alexandria Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The police investigation concluded that the deaths were a murder-suicide, with Cordelia Watts as the sole perpetrator. No other suspects were sought, and no arrests were made, as the person responsible had also died at the scene. The tragic event sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the immense pressures the family had been under. The years of caring for a disabled child, coupled with the immense financial burden of medical and legal bills, had taken a devastating toll, culminating in a tragic end for both mother and son.
