Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Toledo area

Gruesome crime scene inside West Toledo apartment
Posted: 01.14.2013 at 10:34 AM
Updated: 01.14.2013 at 4:50 PM
Amulya Raghuveer

Amulya is the Director of Digital Content and Community Relations at WNWO.

0
James Day, Sr. faces a charge of murder in the death of Joan Watson.  / LCJ
Slideshow
Photo:

TOLEDO -- Several hours of investigation have led authorities to a suspect in the gruesome murder of a Toledo woman inside her apartment.

Toledo Police say they responded to a call around 9:30 a.m. Sunday that a woman was dead inside apartment 14 at 3118 W. Sylvania. When police arrived, they found Joan A. Watson, 49, deceased.

After a day of investigation, police named James M. Day, Sr., 66, of 2519 Auburn Ave., a suspect in the homicide. He was arrested Sunday evening.

Reports indicate Watson was found naked and mutilated inside her apartment. The caller to 911, Watson's neighbor, told authorities that she found Watson with her chest "open." When police arrived they found Watson on the kitchen floor with multiple stab wounds.

Police have not commented on the exact cause of death, but a Lucas County coroner's investigator told The Blade that the homicide was one of the most graphic he has seen in 20 years of work. According to media reports, sources say one of Watson's breasts was cut off her body and her abdomen sliced open.

Day, who told authorities he was drinking and smoking crack cocaine with Watson inside her apartment Saturday night, was arraigned in a Lucas County courtroom Monday. He has been charged with one count of murder and is being held on a $1 million bond.

Day is a registered sex offender. When he was arrested Day was found with blood on his hands and clothes, and inside his pants pockets.

Court records indicate Watson has had various run ins with the law, including multiple drug and prostitution charges from 2007 to 2009. She had lived at the Sylvania Ave. apartment complex for the past few years, according to neighbors. Those neighbors also say they are not shocked. "It had to happen sooner or later (with) the stuff that goes on around here," said Bruce Bacon. "Many complaints to the landlord."

Meme White, a niece of Watson's, told WNWO she last saw her aunt Saturday night at the Stop n’ Go across the street. “She’s a good person, and this should have happened to nobody,” said White. “It’s a sad thing."

 

Related Links

Popular Stories
Thumbnail
Baby Elaina's injuries revealed and national TV interviews uncover new information
Angi Gonzalez  |  Today at 12:55 AM  |  6 comments
Thumbnail
Day 15 in the search for Elaina Steinfurth
Hubert Wiggins  |  Yesterday at 8:21 PM  |  1 comment
Thumbnail
Search for missing Toledo toddler continues in Maumee River
Amulya Raghuveer  |  Yesterday at 2:39 PM  |  1 comment
Follow Northwest Ohio
Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below
Sign up to get alerts and updates for breaking news, severe weather, and deals:
submit
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Features
Wake up with WNWO Today
Join the WNWO Today crew starting at 4:26 a.m. daily.
Best Bets
Get the info you need, straight from the experts
Like us on Facebook
Join the conversation!
ADVERTISEMENT