Surveyor who found
Watson rewarded by WhiteWater CEO By
MONROE ROARK
Staff Writer
The
man who discovered the remains of Beverley Watson
was recognized for that deed in a ceremony last
week at Watson's former place of employment.
Robert
H. Brooks, president and CEO of WhiteWater
Country Club, presented Robert Gould with a check
for $5,000 in front of the WhiteWater clubhouse
April 21. Gould, a surveyor, found Watson's bones
last month in south Fulton County, nearly two
years after her disappearance.
Calling
Watson an asset and valued employee at
WhiteWater Country Club, Brooks said that
thanks in part to Gould's actions, we are
pleased the process of closure to the families,
community and the children of Beverley Watson has
begun.
Upon
receipt of the check, Gould made a brief public
statement. I wish I could have found her
alive, he said. I'm sorry it
[Watson's death] had to happen.
Major
Bruce Jordan, head of the Criminal Investigations
Division of the Fayette County Sheriff's
Department, also made a brief statement, thanking
WhiteWater for its help in the search for Watson.
Brooks in turn thanked Jordan and Sheriff Randall
Johnson for their work on the Watson case.
The
reward announcement was made soon after Watson's
disappearance, and Brooks emphasized the
importance of this presentation in motivating
others to help the authorities close this case as
well as others.
This
presentation of $5,000 to Robert Gould should
show that rewards are paid, and if anybody has
any information on not just the Watson case but
any missing person, then they should come
forth, said Brooks.
In
conclusion, Brooks thanked the community for its
support and vigilance through this trying
period of time.
We
are waiting now to see how everything
develops, he said. May her family and
all of her friends continue to pray and hope that
an ending to this tragedy will be soon. Thank you
for your support and never forgetting about
Beverley Watson.
Meanwhile,
investigators in Fulton County are moving forward
with their probe into Watson's death and could
see some tangible results soon.
Interviews
with more than 50 people connected with the case
should be completed in about a week, according to
Major Terry Mulkey of the Fulton County Police
Department.
The
process has gone quite smoothly, Mulkey
said. We're pleased with everyone's
cooperation and the way everything has gone so
far.
The
painstakingly slow process of forensic work, made
more difficult by the fact that authorities have
little more than bones to work with, also should
be completed soon within two weeks
maximum, Mulkey estimated.
Watson's
case is currently a missing person/remains found
case, and police are awaiting evidence from the
medical examiner's office that will tell them
whether foul play is involved and if the case
should be pursued as a homicide.
A
contributing factor in the slow forensic process
is the fact that the examiner's office recently
moved from Grady Memorial Hospital to a new
facility on Pryor Street in downtown Atlanta.
That transition just kind of strung it out
a little bit, said Mulkey.
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