Photo: GoFundMe
The body of an Alabama woman who’d been missing for more than a month was found at the bottom of a well.
Three men, Kendal Tyler Battles, 29, Joseph Brandon Nevels, 20, and Devon Trent Hall, 27, have been charged with murder and abuse of a corpse, according to Tuscaloosa County Jail records.
Investigators believe Watkins was at the home of one of the suspects when she was allegedly assaulted and killed. The suspects then allegedly drove Watkins’ body to the vacant home and threw it into the well.
Kendal Tyler Battles and Joseph Brandon Nevels (from left).Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
“These were friends of hers she was associating with that night and drug usage is heavily suspected,” Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa county Sheriff’s Office said, according to CBS42. “Things took a turn for the worse obviously and these gentlemen chose to murder her. It is tragic and very brutal and shows a distinct disregard for the sanctity of life.”
Devon Trent Hall.Tuscaloosa County Jail
Martha “Willoe” Watkins.Facebook
Both of Watkins’ parents are dead and she was very close with her grandmother, theReal-Time Newsreports
“She grew up hard, in a hard life, around a lot of drugs,” Lori Hudgins, Watkins’ cousin, told the paper.
“When you are around that life it is easy to fall into it. She wanted to do better but she got involved with some bad people and she couldn’t get away from them,” Hudgins continued. “I hope the people who did this go to prison and never get out.”
AGoFundMe pagehas been launched to help with funeral expenses. TheReal-Time Newsreports that before graduating from McAdory High School, Watkins was involved in pageants.
The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible. Attorney information for Battles, Hall and Nevels was unavailable Tuesday and it was unclear if either of the suspects have entered a plea.
source: people.com
