The Fayette Citizen-News Page
Friday, March 26, 1999
Watson devastated over news that wife's remains are found

By JOHN THOMPSON
Staff Writer

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In a voice cracking with emotion, Jim Watson told reporters Wednesday he was "devastated" by the news that his wife's skeletal remains had been found in south Fulton County.

On the lawn of the Henry County Courthouse, Watson delivered a short statement expressing his grief over the discovery of Beverley watson's remains earlier this week.

Watson had been missing for over two years and the search for her had involved police officials from several jurisdictions.

Jim Watson said officials from the Fayette County Sheriff's Department knocked on his door at 2 p.m. Monday to deliver the news.

"We weren't expecting the news and didn't want to hear it," said an emotional Watson.

He added his children were hit hard by the news, but now the investigation into how Beverley died can continue.

"Now we can find out what really happened and have some closure to this," he said.

After Watson spoke, a young woman in the crowd yelled derisively, "Nice show."

The woman was Terri Middleton, who was Beverley Watson's boss at Whitewater Country Club. Middleton slammed Watson's statement and urged people not to listen to him.

"Get with the sheriff's department and find out the truth. Ask why her bedroom door was kicked down the night she disappeared and why he had a big gash on his forehead," she said.

Middleton said Jim Watson had made a fool out of the sheriff's department and too much emphasis was being placed on Jim and not Beverley.

"She was a real person," she said.

As the media peppered her with questions, Middleton said she was quite pleased with the efforts of the sheriff's department and had no doubt that Watson's husband was involved in her disappearance.

"He's 100 percent guilty," she said.

Middleton said the missing woman had confided with employees at Whitewater about her abusive relationship and was getting ready to move into an apartment when she left. She added that Beverley also said Jim had multiple affairs. When she disappeared, Middleton feared the worse because of Beverley's love for her children.

"Those kids were her whole life," she said.

Middleton said the Watsons' relationship could be described as controlling with Jim calling Beverley at work every morning at 8:30 a.m. to make sure she was at work.

"If she was even five minutes late, he would come by and want to know where she was," she said.

During the two years that Watson has been missing, Middleton has grown increasingly frustrated with the media perception of Watson.

"He was not the loving, supporting husband," she said.

Middleton called Beverley the best employee she ever had and hopes now that her remains have been found, the case will soon come to an end.


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