Ripley, Tenn.–Curtis Ray Watson will spend life in prison without parole for the rape and murder of Tennessee Corrections Administrator Debra Johnson in August of 2019.
As part of a plea deal, Watson pleaded no contest Monday to a charge of first-degree murder in the perpetration of a rape, pleaded no contest to aggravated rape, and pleaded guilty to seven other charges including aggravated burglary and escape.
The sentencing hearing was held Monday at Lauderdale County.
Watson was caught by Henry County Sheriff’s deputies and their bloodhounds after he had been on the run for five days after his escape from the West Tennessee State Penintentiary.
Johnson was found dead in her home, which was located on the penitentiary grounds, on August 7, 2019.
Originally, Watson was indicted on 15 criminal counts ranging from theft to murder.
At the time of his capture, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office contingent had joined the manhunt that morning. Former Sheriff Monte Belew said at the time the Henry County team was working the scene of the search in Henning when Watson “popped out and ran into a beanfield about 500 yards away from us.”
With the local team were two bloodhounds: Rowdy, whose handler is Cpl. Stacey Bostwick; and Adora, whose handler is Sgt. Wayne Fuqua.