Another Murder Trial for Coral Eugene Watts

A serial killer who was once just days away from being released from prison is facing another murder trial which began this week in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Coral Eugene Watts is on trial for the 1974 stabbing death of 19-year-old Western Michigan University college student Gloria Steele.

Steele's body was found lying face up in her bedroom Oct. 30, 1974 by her boyfriend, who told police he saw a "black man" leaving the apartment just before he found her body. Steele had been stabbed 30 times in the chest and abdomen.

Like all of the cases linked to Watts, there was no evidence of sexual assault and nothing was stolen from the apartment.

Prosecutors admittedly have little evidence linking Watts to the murder of Steele in her apartment over 30 years ago. They plan to rely on linking similarities of the Steele crime scene to six other murders to which Watts previously confessed.

But after a ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2006, jurors will not hear about the 12 murders Watts has confessed to or the 26 unsolved murders authorities believe he committed. The court ruled that the rest of the "prior bad-act evidence" was more prejudicial than probative.

Would Kill Again

In 1982, Watts made a deal with Texas prosecutors and confessed to 12 murders in exchange for a 60-year sentence, which at the time everyone thought would be a life sentence. But subsequent court rulings changed Watts' status and he became eligible for parole.

In 2004, the state of Michigan put Watts on trial for the 1979 murder of Helen Mae Dutcher in Ferndale, Michigan. He was convicted and sentenced to life without parole.

Watts, who apparently killed his victims merely for the thrill of killing them, has said in the past that he would kill again if ever released. However, he has denied having anything to do with the two Michigan murders.

Background:
Coral Eugene Watts - The Sunday Morning Slasher
Sunday Morning Slasher Found Guilty

See Also:
Serial killer on Trial for College Student's Stabbing Death in 1974