Good afternoon. It's really exciting to be part of this investigation where the
sheriff's office and the crime lab did some extraordinary work to Settelf a
crime that occurred in 1985.
Um, and we're here to announce that gator rhymes is now charged with first
degree murder. It's a class a felony with a potential life sentence. His
bond is at $1 million dollars For those who want to ask for the affidavit
pursuant to Kansas rules, it's 21 cr 1006 is the case number. He is
currently in the state of Missouri. Going through the extradition process,
we anticipate that over the next week that he will be transported to the
johnson County jail to await his uh first arraignment and then the case
will then proceed. I I appreciate the family being here today, um, and their
support. I know this is an opportunity for them to have closure and I
appreciate the hard work uh and the dedication of the law enforcement
officers in the crime lab who were able to make this possible. And from this
point on, our office will do our very best to provide justice for the family
and the community.
Good afternoon. I'm josh thais captain with john's County sheriff's Office
investigations division.
I'd like to start out just by saying what happened 36 years ago. Um, to Gary
Watson was a tragedy. He was a son, husband, a father, a brother. Number of
his family members are here and it's hard to imagine 36 years not knowing
What happened to a loved one in your family. And um, it's, we're very happy
today to be able to bring some closure, some sense of a beginning for healing
for this family. Um, it's
in this case, we call this a cold case because um, obviously the amount of
time it took to solve it, any type of homicide generally is a difficult case
to work and can be difficult to solve and specifically a case like this that
goes on as long as it has, you can see how difficult it was. Um, I'd like to
point out a few individuals that had a big impact on this. There were a number
of detectives that were assigned this case over the years, obviously it
wasn't solved. But more recently, our lead detective Natalie Bright to my
left,
her partner Judd Bungert and our crime analysts, Amanda Schulte all detectives
with the johnson County Sheriff's office.
They took a fresh approach with this case. Um, they looked at it from a
bunch of different angles, They met with um some of our
crime scene investigators with our john county crime lab, You'll hear from one
of them here in a moment and they were able to uh take a fresh look at this
case that hadn't happened before, review some of the evidence. And
ultimately because of their hard work, that's why we're here today able to
have this, this news for you.
In addition to them, I'd just like to thank a few people. There were a lot of
detectives that were involved in this case prior To these detectives. Thank
you to all those over the last 36 years that helped. I'd like to also mention
the Roland Park Police Department. They entrusted us with this investigation.
Um, Chief jOHn Morris is here today as well. I'd like to thank our partnership
with the District Attorney's office, uh, steve how the district attorney, um,
they've supported us through this investigation and we look forward to
continuing to work as we move forward through prosecution. Um, I would also
like to say thank you to the sheriff. Most agencies don't have the resources
that we've been able to put towards this case. I'd like to thank him and
his executive staff for the resources. We have, the amount of detectives, the
time,
the amount of energy we were able to put into this case to bring out the
result that we have today.
The last thing I'd like to mention is, um, we have a number of cold cases at
the Sheriff's office. There's still seven of them that are unsolved. We're
very fortunate to in the last year, this is the second conference we've
been able to have, um, to come here and say that we've solved one of these
cases and we just want the other family members, the other victims know that we
have a group of people working on these cases.
Just just a moment ago, we met with the family and the gratitude that we saw
gives us renewed energy to pursue these cases and try to find justice for the
other families. And we're optimistic that in the future will be here again
with some news on some other cases. So with that, I'll turn this over to Kate
Meier with our crime level.
Thank you. Captain thais.
Good afternoon. As he mentioned, my name is Kate Meier and I'm a forensic
scientist with the crime scene investigation unit for the johnson
County Sheriff's Office. Crime Lab. Our crime labs involvement in this case
began with the original seen on March 13 in 1985. Multiple members of the
crime lab responded and process the scene thoroughly. At that time,
the evidence was examined and analyzed over the course of the following weeks
and months, resulting in numerous lab reports over the years. While the case
remained open, Our crime lab continued to perform additional forensic analysis
specifically in 2000 to 2011 and 2012.
In August of 2020. At the request of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office
Investigation Division. Forensic scientists from our case coordinator
team were assigned to assist with this case
in investigations such as these. The role of the case coordinators is to
look at the evidence from a new perspective and to identify new or
additional testing that can be performed based on scientific
developments or updated technology.
Due to the quality of the original scene processing and subsequent
evidence storage, It was possible for additional analysis to be performed and
actionable results to be obtained approximately 36 years later.
Since its inception, the mission of the crime lab has been to aid in criminal
investigations through unbiased forensic testing performed by highly
trained experts and we are proud of the contributions we were able to make
towards the resolution of this case.
My name is Audrey walker. These are my brothers, J Watson, Darryl Watson and
my sister didn't want to come on scene. But Sabrina Watson is here and on
behalf of my family, my parents who are now deceased. I just want to say thank
you to Natalie and Judge Amanda and the entire johnson County uh system, the D.
A. All those folks that we didn't meet behind the scenes for never giving up
36 years is a lifetime and we now have closure. So thank you.
We will just take just a few minutes to answer some questions from the media.
If anyone has any questions, just direct it to who you want to answer and
you talk about the work that's been done in this case over the years. Um,
can you, can you talk about the hope that you've had over these past years
to solve this case and if you could step up to the
sucks. So one of the things that happened um is that I am a cold case,
sexy junkie. Um, and so in my spirit, I always believed that the things I saw
on television could happen for our family and periodically throughout the
years I would contact and just to see if they had any new news. So my family
never gave up. Hope You know, in 36 years is a long time. But the sense of
gratitude
that we have for this closure words can't express how grateful and I'm
trying not to cry, but they're tears of joy As opposed to the tears of pain
that we felt on March 13 1985. So much has changed. Uh, but we are immensely
grateful and I say we because we are immensely grateful for their hard work.
So that's the hope
about in terms of the testing. What was it that led you to this person includes
the linchpin in this case to get this turn put in place.
We would love to be able to go into great details. But unfortunately in
Kansas and you've heard me say this before, our Supreme Court rules really
restrict what information we can provide you from the prosecutors and
law enforcement. But what I would suggest is um the law has allowed you
to get the probable cause affidavit, which will probably answer a lot of
those questions you may have and that's the legal way that we go about it.
Unfortunately, because of those restrictions, we can't really go into
specific details about the work that the crime lab where the investigators
actually did tell us where he was taken into custody. Being extradited from the
ST louis area is where he was taken into custody. And and that's where he's
going through the extradition process. And again, we believe that in the next
week he'll be transported to the johnson County jail just for the folks
who may be watching us live spill suspects.
In order to spell that, I'm going to make sure that I have it down. It's
gator, G E T E R rhymes, R H Y M E S. Uh the ages. I don't have that off the
top of my head. 65 Great. Um ma'am, if you don't mind, could you explain who
he was? Could you explain for those who don't, who didn't know my brother? So I
am the eldest of seven. Um
and so I was his big sister, but he was like the big brother. Uh He was a
father of three per twins, fraternal and the oldest son, he was a loving
husband, he loved his mother, he was actually a mama's boy, believe it or
not. Uh And he was young because 29 is young. Uh And so he loved basketball,
he grew up in the era of Dr J. So he thought Dr J was like could do no wrong.
He uh
he liked to eat, he liked to eat, he had but he was not a really big guy, he
was actually a thin guy. Uh and he was a really good person, he would do
anything for anybody. And so like all of us, we all have a past, we all have
done things that we kinda wish we hadn't done that's called life on
life's terms. And so we all have those experiences, but he had a loving,
caring, compassionate spirit for other folks. And so for him to be killed the
way he was was very traumatic at that time. And it remains so so
that's it. If you could talk to him today, what would you tell your breath?
I would say I have missed you for 36 years every day. You missed my
graduation. You missed your Children's graduation. You have grandchildren now.
You have great nieces who know all about you. Uh Your mother loved you
until the day she died. Your dad loved you until the day he died that you were
missed and you were loved always. That's what I would say. It's been 36
years. You said it's been alive? Yeah. There are other families out there such
as yourself that have been grieving that's still don't have an answer. What
would you say to those families about
what they may be going through about? If they will feel so? I would say what
I said to me never give up. I never ever gave up hope that this could be
solved. I understood That 1985-2021, there have been so many new processes
in place for the criminal justice system that you can't just walk away
from what you did, even if it took 36 years, I would say stay in contact, I
would say stay prayed up know that there is a guy know that there is a God,
you know know that believe in what you believe but that it is solvable and my
time is not God's time you know but I remain grateful and I remain hopeful
and you need to dynamic duo. You know you need the dynamic duo. I'm telling
you if you got Detective Bright and Detective bro. Guards, you got the
dynamic duo Absolutely
Communication between you and
36 years. No I've had we've talked to different detectives and I am that
person that because I always believed I was just periodically call and ask you
know, has there been any progress? And someone would always contact me and my
sister let us know that uh one of the original detectives would call her just
to let her know. We haven't given up, we want you to know we haven't given up.
That's a wonderful thing to know that the police department didn't give up
that they felt like they could solve this. You know so so so it's a process,
it's not like tv it's not done in an hour with commercials.
How did you find out who called you what was dynamic duo? Detective Bright
called me And uh she said I got I got good news and she came to my apartment
in ST louis and my sister and I were there and my brother was on speaker and
the tears just started flowing and it was just an overwhelming sense of thank
you God there's some closure like the true healing can begin like I can sleep
better like I slept better than I had in a really long time.
Yeah that was that the question. Yeah.
Believe that more failing. Are you? Is this we put
we tried
the investigation is ongoing. Is what we're going to tell you at this point.
There was more than one suspect in this case. And as the case proceeds will be
able to provide some additional information on that.
That's it. You tell me.
Have you mentioned there were a lot of
Okay, number of Okay.
Mhm. Initially when this um investigation started, uh there was a
metro squad that's called. Where a number of agencies from the Metro. You
may be familiar. Uh come and investigate. And I know that There were
initial 20 detectives involved with that. They requested an extension past
the normal five days that they are able to provide that team and did it for
another multiple days there. I know that um I don't have a great number of
over the years. How many additional detectives have been involved. But the
sheriff's office shortly after um took over this case and was the lead
investigating agency. And over the years and 36 years some of the
detectives have come and gone retired. Um that had worked on the case. But
there's been numerous detectives and then most recently you've had two that
were um kind of the lead on this with others helping as well.
I guess my last question real quick is you know, you see the, see the relief.
You see the hope. It's been Just going on for 36 years here. When you see a
family member, family members have them come through with that belief. What
does that mean to you as investigators and then any lasting message you might
have.
Mhm.
You know, these our investigators in our crime lab I think are the best of
the best and there are a lot of other people out there with hope just like
this case. Um don't give up hope. We're still out there every day. Our lab is
looking at our officers are in pursuit of of justice. And please don't give up
hope. If you have any questions, any additional information, call us. You
know, we look at this case every life matters everyone does. And if we can
give somebody closure, that's what we do. And that's what motivates our
officers and our staff, our crime lab, the District Attorney's office to bring
closure to these cases. So thank you all for your patience and we'll
continue the fight. Thank you. You see the reaction of the family and that's
what motivates prosecutors and investigators to act is when we see
what the results are, the tangible results of closure for these families
and being able to provide justice to them. It's a big deal and that's why we
do our job and my staff that has worked really hard with the sheriff's office
to get to this point. That's what drives us each and every day. So you're,
you're absolutely right. These are the types of cases we live for because we
know what it can do for families and and for justice for the community and
anything else that you want to say lasting message you wanna leave? Um, No,
I do You know what? Just thank you. Words can't express my gratitude and
thank you. Thank all of you all and thank you for being here, we can.
Thanks.