Dead Man Walking...free - no really!

[Jr_Bullit]

Serial Killer Goes Free... (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/14/60minutes/main649363.shtml)

You would think that if they know he's a serial killer they'd do something to keep him in. We have so many people in jails, prisons, behind bars, on probation and costing us tax money, yet one guy manages to make a deal and they know he's killed more than Dahmer, Bundy, or any of those other well known guys....

(CBS) Coral Eugene Watts may be the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history. He’s already admitted to killing more than a dozen women, but authorities believe the actual number may be closer to 100.

Watts is scheduled to be released from prison in less than two years, after serving just 24 years of a 60-year sentence. How can that be?

It turns out Texas authorities made a deal with the devil back in 1982. They agreed to a plea bargain they thought would keep Watts behind bars for the rest of his life. But, as correspondent Steve Kroft reports, the deal has come back to haunt them, and Watts may become the first serial killer ever to be set free.

For the past 22 years, Watts has been locked up in the Texas prison system – all but forgotten.

"What’s amazing to me is everybody in America has heard of a Ted Bundy, a John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer. But when you mention the name of Coral Eugene Watts, 99.99 percent of the public has no clue who you’re talking about," says Andy Kahan, who is hoping to change that.

As director of the Crime Victims Office for the Mayor of Houston, he's trying to find some way to keep Watts from being released.

"I guarantee you, if he is released, women are gonna turn up murdered," says Kahan. "There’s no ifs, ands, or buts. This was a man that by his own admission stated that 'I’m gonna kill again if they ever release me.' You do not rehabilitate a serial killer."

[N8]

He probably won't live more than a couple days upon his release since one of his victem's family members will shoot him dead.

[valve bouncer]

Whoa creepy as hell. I'm sure they'll find some way to keep him in.

[DRB]

He probably won't live more than a couple days upon his release since one of his victem's family members will shoot him dead.

They'll probably get the death penalty for doing it.

[MikeD]

Boy, that's great police work. Sheesh.

I hope they'll be able to link him to another murder and try him for that-there's no statute of limitations-or, if not, just have an undercover cop team trail him for days until they can arrest him for another crime...like (hopefully attempted) murder...

I can't believe that in Texas, of all places, they couldn't put this dude in the Chair. Jeez.

MD

[LordOpie]

One of the things ya gotta love about Texas is that he'll probably be shot 150 times from 30 different people walking out of prison and no one will get in trouble.

[Silver]

This would be one time I think I'd support a guy "accidentally" getting shot by the cops 15 times...

[Skookum]

i've been vocal on here for being for the death-penalty. But when the Green River Killer and this guy don't get it, and TONS of people die in Texas every year, my arguments weaken.....

[Jr_Bullit]

i've been vocal on here for being for the death-penalty. But when the Green River Killer and this guy don't get it, and TONS of people die in Texas every year, my arguments weaken.....

It's all about the plea bargain ....admit more than you did, but to things they can't prove, and lower your sentence. This guy served less than 2 years for each person he admitted to killing!!!!

[DRB]

i've been vocal on here for being for the death-penalty. But when the Green River Killer and this guy don't get it, and TONS of people die in Texas every year, my arguments weaken.....

Too bad he wasn't retarded then he would have gotten the chair or needle.

[MikeD]

There's nothing wrong with the death penalty...but then again, there's nothing wrong with guns, either. Perhaps we need to run a societal background check on ourselves. We may be guilty of such behavior that makes us unsuitable to own the death penalty.

I'm philosophically for the death penalty, but it seems that its real-world use just isn't, um, living up to what it should be.

MD

[golgiaparatus]

WTF?!?! Just fry him and call him "released".

[Skookum]

Y'know Texas is the only state that can legally secede from the nation. Why don't they secede for the 15 minutes it takes to temporarily change the law of due process fry him, then just revert back after it's done. :oink:

[Jesus]

Y'know Texas is the only state that can legally secede from the nation. Why don't they secede for the 15 minutes it takes to temporarily change the law of due process fry him, then just revert back after it's done. :oink:

Please elaborate!

[Damn True]

It's all about the plea bargain ....admit more than you did, but to things they can't prove, and lower your sentence. This guy served less than 2 years for each person he admitted to killing!!!!


Quick, get that guy registered to vote!

He has served his sentance hasn't he?

[Jr_Bullit]

Quick, get that guy registered to vote!

He has served his sentance hasn't he?

True enough, that he has. If he's a reformed individual (contrary to his quotes made prior to incarceration), then he should have a chance to hold down a job, support himself, and vote for his government.

Doesn't mean I want to live in the same neighborhood as him or be buddies... :dead:

And as far as I can see from the little information in this article, it appears that this guy got lucky with a few loopholes in our justice system. I'm glad we tend to judge one's innocence before guilt, but in this case, I think you'd wanna be a little more careful. What's the matter true? You think all the bad boys and girls of the world are gonna band together and vote purposely against you? That any government they might vote for would be bad for you?

[Damn True]

Is it difficult for you to type that?
I am having trouble reading it without laughing.

[Jr_Bullit]

Maybe, as was suggested in previous posts related to this creepo, it's the justice system that's flawed and he should be staying behind bars. As it stands, legally, he's served his time and his rights as a citizen are reinstated. I've no issues with him voting - :) Chances are pretty good that if he's going back on a killing spree, he's not gonna want to bother making sure the evil democrats make it into power.

[Damn True]

THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES!

Geez, and John Stewart thinks it's just the media that is partisan.

[Skookum]

Please elaborate!
please..... i'm way to dumb to work out the details.... :p

[Westy]

THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES!

Geez, and John Stewart thinks it's just the media that is partisan.

Wrong. Haven't you been listening to N8. This is a binary world defined only be hippy liberal Democrats or Republicans. There is no black, no white, certainly no grey, just reps and dems.

[Just Lookin'...]

two words:

felony disenfranchisement

hardly a worry about ex-cons voting for the 'wrong' party.