Alexander Watson

Serial Killer

Alexander Wayne Watson: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Overview

Alexander Wayne Watson Jr. (born September 24, 1969) is an American serial killer whose criminal activities spanned from 1986 to 1994 in Maryland. Initially convicted for a single murder in 1994, subsequent DNA evidence linked him to three additional murders committed years earlier. Watson is currently serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Victims

• Boontem Anderson
  • Age: 34
  • Date of Murder: October 8, 1986
  • Location: Gambrills, Maryland
  • Details: Anderson, a mother of two and employee at Fort Meade, was on sick leave when she was attacked in her home. Her nude body was discovered in the bathtub by her fiancé's 11-year-old son. She had been sexually assaulted, stabbed, and strangled. Watson, a minor at the time, lived nearby and was acquainted with the family through their son, with whom he worked at a fast-food restaurant.
• Mary Elaine Shereika
  • Age: 37
  • Date of Murder: May 23, 1988
  • Location: Gambrills, Maryland
  • Details: Shereika was on an early morning jog before work when she went missing. Her fiancé reported her absence, and later that day, a farmer discovered her partially clothed body in a rye field. She had been raped, stabbed, and strangled. Watson, who lived nearby, encountered Shereika while using drugs in a park. He decided to attack her, leading to her death.
• Lisa Kathleen Haenel
  • Age: 14
  • Date of Murder: January 15, 1993
  • Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland
  • Details: Haenel, a ninth-grade student at Old Mill High School, disappeared while walking to school. Her mother reported her missing, and a search ensued. The next morning, her body was found in a ravine behind the school. She was nearly nude, with stab wounds and signs of strangulation. Unlike previous victims, Haenel was not sexually assaulted. However, a blood-stained Newport cigarette found near her body provided DNA evidence linking Watson to the crime.
• Debra Cobb
  • Age: 37
  • Date of Murder: June 13, 1994
  • Location: Forestville, Maryland
  • Details: Cobb, an office manager, was killed during a robbery at her workplace. Watson, who worked in the same office plaza, was arrested shortly after the crime. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, attributing his actions to a crack cocaine addiction. This conviction led to his initial life sentence in December 1994.

Investigation and Conviction

Advancements in DNA technology played a pivotal role in linking Watson to the earlier murders. Evidence from the crime scenes was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which matched samples to Watson. In 2004, he was charged with the three additional murders. To avoid a potential death sentence, Watson pleaded guilty in 2007 and received four additional life sentences, to be served concurrently with his existing one. He is currently incarcerated at the North Branch Correctional Institution. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Boontem Anderson Age: (34), Date of Death: 1986-10-08

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Alexander Wayne Watson - Wikipedia

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