Curtis Ray Watson (photo by TBI)An escaped jail inmate who allegedly killed a Tennessee Department of Correction employee was captured Sunday, according to the Tennessee Department of Investigation.
Curtis Ray Watson escaped while working lawn duty as a prisoner at West Tennessee State Penitentiary in Henning on Wednesday. He was serving a 15-year sentence for especially aggravated kidnapping.
The 44-year-old Watson had been released on work detail for daily mowing duties. He was at the home of a female corrections administrator. He allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered her before escaping on a tractor, according to authorities. He was soon added to Tennessee's most wanted list. There was a $57,000 reward for information leading to his capture and conviction.
The corrections officer was Debra Johnson, 64. She worked for the state of Tennessee for 38 years and had previously been a corrections officer.
TBI had secured warrants for first degree murder, especially aggravated burglary and aggravated sexual battery.
Details of Watson's capture are still limited. TBI posted a home security video of the wanted man on Graves Avenue in Henning about 10 minutes before posting news of his capture. Watson could be seen opening a refrigerator in a carport outside someone's home.