At the age of 12, Coral Eugene Watts confessed to having disturbing dreams of harming and murdering women, and by 15, he had already committed his first murder. These twisted fantasies from his childhood paved the way for a life filled with depravity and violence, drawing comparisons to notorious killers like Samuel Little.
Born in 1953 in Killeen, Texas, Watts later moved to Detroit during his childhood, which marked a significant transition for him. Stricken with meningitis at the age of nine, his family noticed a sudden shift in his demeanor, foreshadowing darker days ahead.
By the time he was 15, Watts had not only taken his first life but also engaged in multiple sexual assaults. According to a homicide detective, Watts chillingly admitted, “There aren’t enough fingers and toes in this room for the number of women I’ve killed.”
Despite a troubled past, Watts secured a football scholarship at Lane College in Tennessee, offering a glimmer of hope for a fresh start. However, his deviant desires soon resurfaced, leading to his expulsion from college for stalking women just three months later.
The reign of terror began with the murder of Gloria Steele, followed by a string of violent attacks on women, leaving a trail of brutality in his wake. Eventually apprehended for his heinous crimes, psychologists expressed concerns about Watts’ lack of remorse and high likelihood of reoffending.
Dubbed the Sunday Morning Slasher, Watts terrorized Detroit in the mid-1970s, targeting slim, blonde, white women during early Sunday mornings. His victims, including news reporter Jeanne Clyne, fell prey to his vicious assaults, leaving a community in fear.
Despite a brief escape to Texas, Watts continued his killing spree, claiming the lives of Shirley Small, Glenda Richmond, and Rebecca Greer-Huff in Michigan. It wasn’t until the brave actions of Melinda Aguilar, who escaped his grasp and helped authorities capture the ruthless killer, that Watts was finally apprehended.
Convicted for 13 murders, Watts was sentenced to 60 years in prison, later reduced to 24 years due to legal technicalities. In 2007, after spending years incarcerated, the infamous serial killer passed away from cancer at the Ionia Maximum Correctional Facility in Michigan.
