Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén - “The Sunday Morning Slasher” Coral Eugene Watts Pt. 2

Episode Date: August 6, 2020

By the early 1980s, Watts had stabbed three women to death. As police closed in on him, setting up tails and even bringing him in for questioning—but unable to detain him—he fled to Texas, where he disappeared into the city then known as “The Murder Capital of the U.S.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Due to the graphic nature of this killer's crimes, listener discretion is advised. This episode includes discussions of stalking, murder, and assault that some people may find offensive. We advise extreme caution for children under 13. The sun was still far from rising in Galveston, Texas, on the morning of March 27, 1982. The only ones awake were the birds, and Glenda Kirby, a young student of the University of Texas Medical Branch. Glenda was enjoying her solitary morning routine. The UTMB campus was empty for spring break, but she was staying in town for her vacation. Glenda was in her own world as she walked along the vacant sidewalks in the dark.

She didn't even notice when a tan Pontiac Grand Prix slowed to a crawl behind her. The car followed her for a block before it rolled to a stop. Behind Glenda, the large shadow of a man unfolded from the Pontiac. something dark was dripping from his hands. Glenda still oblivious to the shadowy man behind her, never looked back, not even when the dark form started to run. At the last second, Glenda heard the heavy footsteps. She turned just in time to see 28-year-old Coral Eugene Watts sprinting toward her.

He was covered in blood, and he had murder in his eyes. Hi, I'm Greg Poulson. This is serial killers, a podcast original. Every episode, we dive into the minds and madness of serial killers. Today we're concluding our look at Coral Eugene Watts, the Sunday Morning Slasher. I'm here with my co-host, Vanessa Richardson. Hi, everyone. You can find episodes of serial killers and all other parcast originals for free on Spotify,

or wherever you listen to podcasts. To stream serial killers for free on Spotify, just open the app and type serial killers in the search bar. In our last episode, we dove into Coral's early life and saw how a severe childhood illness and tumultuous mental health issues led to a quiet but powerful rage. Eventually, he began to express himself through violence

and then murder. Today, we'll look at how Coral became one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history as well as the police manhunt across state lines. We've got all that and more coming up. Stay with us. This episode is brought to you by ZipRecruiter. Whether you're hiring for a role or searching for a killer, the hunt can be exhausting.

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This episode is brought to you by Prime. Obsession is in session. this summer, Prime Originals have everything you want. Steamy romances, irresistible love stories, and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice. Off campus, L. Every year after, The Love Hypothesis, Sterling Point, and more. Slow burns, second chances, chemistry you can feel through the screen.

Your next obsession is waiting. Watch only on Prime. By the age of 26, Coral Eugene Watts had claimed the lives of at least three weeks. women across the state of Michigan. In all three stabbing murders, the attacks were marked by a barbaric rage and overwhelming force. After years of suppressed anger, Coral only found relief in violence against women. Coral's weapons of choice were small woodcarving knives and sharpened screwdrivers. The tools were small. Their blades only a few inches long. Not your typical murder weapon because they really weren't that effective for killing. But that's what Coral

Coral liked about them, he could just keep stabbing, taking out his frustration until it melted away. Unfortunately, the release would never last for long. These highs and lows were evident in his behavior at home. Coral's wife, Valeria, was always on edge. Coral ran through patterns of stress-inducing behaviors that strained their relationship. The most troubling of these was his habit of disappearing at night. At night, Coral would take off without saying, a word. These frequent, unexplained flights from home worried Valeria. It's unclear if she was aware,

but they often coincided with attacks on women in the Detroit area. In early 1980, less than a year into their marriage, Valeria was already at her breaking point. With an increase in Coral's unexplained nighttime wanderings, she felt more afraid and alone than ever. Feeling like a stranger to her husband, Valeria couldn't stand living with him anymore. In May of 1980, Valeria filed for divorce and moved out. Valeria's desertion left Coral feeling out of control, and he became angrier than ever. His failed relationship likely served as yet another trigger for the emotional shame that motivated his aggression and violence. Vanessa is going to take over on the psychology here and throughout the episode.

Please note, Vanessa is not a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist, but she has done a lot of research for this show. Thanks, Greg. In a collaborative study published in Aggression and Violent Behavior, researchers found that poorly adapted regulation of internalized shame was linked with violent outcomes. In the context of adult couple relationships, these researchers concluded that breakups trigger the emotional pain associated with childhood relational shame. When Valeria divorced Coral, he felt a loss of control and was reminded of the shame of unhealthy relational experiences in his past. Coral's chaotic family life deprived him of safe and secure ways to interact and feel in relationships. According to the study, a common response to this shame

is to use anger and aggression through violent means to regain power and control. In short, the only thing Coral knew to do with his shame was to get angry, so that's what he did. On the night of July 12, 1980, Coral got worked up and just started driving. Spending time at his car seems to have been another outlet that Coral used to calm himself. That night, he left Detroit and headed in the direction of Ann Arbor. There's no way of knowing if Coral set out with murderous intentions that night, but after hours spent roaming the quiet streets, he made up his mind. He had to kill again. Sometime around 4 a.m., 26-year-old Glenda Richmond dropped a friend off at home. We can't be sure, but it's

likely around then that Coral first spotted her. Once she was alone, he began tailing her. Coral prickled with anticipation as he followed Glenda's car into her apartment parking lot at 4.30. Wanting to catch her by surprise, he hid near the path leading to the building. Glenda was a restaurant manager, and it had likely been a long night for her. Unfortunately, in her tired state, she remained completely oblivious to her stalker as she came up the walkway. She even had her keys out and ready. Coral waited in silence until Glenda was just steps from making it inside. Then he sprang out and grabbed her.

Coral put her in a headlock and stabbed her violently in the chest. With each stab, he felt the anger of the past months fading away. Just moments later, he dropped Glenda's lifeless form and fled, feeling relief and euphoria spreading through him. A short time later, Glenda's body was feeling. found just feet from her door. She'd been stabbed 28 times, and her purse lay next to her untouched. Both neighbors and police noticed that Glenda's brutal killing was reminiscent of Shirley Small's murder just months earlier.

The striking similarities forced them to reconsider what they assumed was a random attack on Shirley. Perhaps the two murders were related. Suddenly, it seemed clear that the young women of Ann Arbor were being targeted. by a serial killer. But just as the fears spread, the killing stopped. A couple of weeks went by without any new victims in Ann Arbor. That's likely because Coral was busy expanding his hunting ground. Every time he got in his car, he felt compelled to drive farther, faster, and for longer, to find a sense of calm. And when driving wasn't cutting it, there was always option two. In the early hours of July 31st, Coral got in his carol got in his carol.

car and drove north. His Pontiac was tagged going across the border into Ontario, Canada. There, he headed for the city of Windsor. What happened next isn't clear, but it's likely that Coral looped the neighborhoods in Windsor's downtown area. At the same time, 22-year-old Irene Contatowicz was walking home after a night out bar hopping. A little before 4 a.m., Irene was attacked from behind by an unknown assailant, who slashed her throat. he never saw her attacker, but miraculously lived to tell the terrifying story. Around 30 minutes after Irene was attacked, Coral was photographed at a checkpoint re-entering the U.S. It's still unknown whether Coral was the one who attacked Irene that night, but if he was,

it did little to assuage his urges. Just over a month later, he returned to Ann Arbor with an appetite for murder. Coral was passing through neighborhoods around the University of Michigan. when he saw Rebecca Greer Huff getting into her car. That night, 20-year-old Rebecca had hung out with some friends at an apartment. Around 3.45 a.m., Rebecca left her friends to make her way home. Just like Glenda Richmond, Rebecca made it to her building's parking lot safely. It was in the 100 feet between her car and her apartment that Coral attacked. He jumped her from behind and stabbed her repeatedly.

When Rebecca was dead, Coral fled the scene. A resident in Rebecca's building heard her screams and called the police. They arrived around 4 a.m. to find her body. She had been stabbed a total of 54 times all along her torso. The news of Rebecca's murder was a blow to police and locals alike. The especially brutal nature of her murder drew even more attention to the three serial killings. Rebecca was popular and beloved. She was seen as a true pillar in many of her local and academic.

communities, so her death put pressure on the police to catch her killer, Bast. Alongside them, local media sought to make sense of the violence, but only fanned the flames of fear. News of the latest stabbing murder sent women into a panic across the university campus and spread through the rest of the town. Women stopped walking home alone. Terrified they'd be next. Police held town hall meetings, distributed pamphlets about nighttime safety, and started a special task force. Meanwhile, the press recognized the urgency of the case and set out to help in whatever way they could. In their reporting, they started making useful connections between the killings. Based on details released by police, Ann Arbor journalists identified

the killer's pattern. The women were all attacked in front of their apartments around 4 a.m. on Sunday mornings. So they dubbed the killer, the Sunday morning slasher. Despite the heat coming from the Ann Arbor papers and the new nickname, 26-year-old Coral was relaxed in Detroit, nearly 50 miles away from the frenzy. He was content to let the dust settle in Ann Arbor before returning. But someone else was also watching the coverage of his murders closely. Sergeant James Arthur's of the Detroit Police Department

thought the stories of the Ann Arbor attacks were eerily familiar. After the murder of Gloria Steele in 1974, Coral had never truly left Arthur's mind, and now it seemed the past was about to catch up to him. Up next, Coral becomes the hunted. Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is California's number one entertainment destination for today's superstars. Catch the Jonas Brothers return to the Yamava Theater stage on April 30th, the powerful vocals of Demi Lovato on May 17. and the signature Southern Country Rock of Eric Church on July 19th.

Tickets on sale now at Yamava Theater.com, only at Yamava Resort and Casino, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You in? Must be 21 to enter. Now back to the story. From May to September of 1980, 26-year-old Coral Eugene Watts went on a killing spree. He stabbed three women to death in front of their homes on Sunday mornings after the Bush. of 20-year-old student Rebecca Huff, the women of Ann Arbor were all on edge. The police and papers announced they had a serial killer on their hands, who they dubbed the Sunday morning Slasher.

But the Slashers' MO and spontaneous victim selection made it hard for him to identify. Fifty miles away in Detroit, Coral felt far enough to avoid suspicion. But he couldn't hide from his past. And though he'd escaped punishment for the murder of Gloria Steele in 1974, Sergeant James Arthur's remained sure it was him. Arthur's investigation had stalled out, but he never forgot Coral. And as the bodies of more murdered women turned up in the Detroit area, the wound patterns and victim profiles felt familiar.

With a good hunch, Coral was the culprit in Ann Arbor as well. Arthur's reached out to the police department there. Initially, Detective Paul Bunton of the Ann Arbor PD dismissed Arthur's offer to share what he knew. But when Leeds dried up, he reconsidered. But the police had no witnesses who could place Coral in Ann Arbor. Hoping to build a case, Bunton instructed the department to report any sightings of Coral within the city limits. They wouldn't have to wait long. On the morning of November 15th, 1980, 27-year-old Coral decided to go out hunting for his next victim. He got to Ann Arbor, where he cruise the downtown area. He saw a young woman walking alone down Main Street at around

450 a.m. and began following her in his car. After so much press coverage of the Sunday morning slasher, the woman was very alert. She noticed that Coral was watching her every move. She ducked into doorways and alleys, trying to hide from his line of sight, but she couldn't get away. The cat and mouse chase went on for nine blocks until the woman managed to throw him off by turning a couple of corners in quick succession. Coral was furious. He threw open his car door and ran through the streets trying to find his lost prey. Unbeknownst to Coral, he was being watched.

Two bead cops spotted him stalking the woman and followed them the whole way. Seeing him in his agitated state, they got out to confront him. Coral fled. He made it to his car before the officers got there and took off, but he couldn't out maneuver them and they cut him off at the next block. Finding that he had a suspended license and expired tags, they arrested Coral and brought him in. A search of his car turned up blood samples, wood carving tools, and a dictionary, with the phrase Rebecca is a lover scratched in the cover.

Seeing the book, police officers were reminded of the slasher's previous victim, Rebecca Huff. Perhaps it was hers. Detective Bunton was alerted that they'd apprehended Coral stalking a woman. He came in to interrogate his top suspect. Bunton was surprised by Coral's demeanor. He found him well-mannered, soft-spoken, and relatively calm. Not at all what he expected for a suspected serial killer. But as soon as Bunton raised his suspicions about Coral's involvement in the murders,

Coral asked for a lawyer. It forced Bunton to admit that he didn't have the evidence now to charge him, but he knew what Coral had done and would prove his guilt eventually. Without evidence of his crimes, the police were obliged to let Coral go free. He left a free man. But Detective Bunton was determined that it wasn't the end of the story. After that night, Bunton was obsessed with tracking Coral down. He drove to Kalamazoo to find out what Sergeant Arthur's knew.

After looking at photos of Gloria Steele's injuries, Bunton agreed that the cases were uncannily alike. He said, the wound pattern, the wound, type was practically an overlay. Bunton and his partner also began digging into Coral's past. After learning about his previous convictions and his time spent in mental hospitals, Bunton was only more certain that Coral was the Sunday morning slasher. One of Coral's past psychiatrists even told Bunton that Coral was likely the culprit. Between the two departments, they coordinated a 24-hour watch on Coral so that someone always had eyes on him.

For the first few nights of their surveillance, Coral seemed unaware of their presence, but on the one night they lost track of him, a woman was murdered just across the border in Canada. So the police upped their presence. But now, Coral knew the police were watching him. The tables were turned, and it seems he didn't like being the one who was haunted. Although driving enabled Coral's killings, it was also one of his few solaces, with the frustrating presence of a constant police tale, Coral lost to one of his only non-violent coping outlets.

He didn't feel free to go anywhere or do anything. He quickly limited his activities to only work, necessary errands, and time at home. He was antsy and paranoid, sure that everyone around him was involved in the police conspiracy. Sometimes the worry would bubble over. He'd get out of his car to stoplight and yell at civilians that he thought were cops. But it seemed that their efforts had to be. a positive effect. During the two months the police stuck to Coral, the stabbings in the Michigan area stopped. Unfortunately, the department only had its resources for a limited time, so Bunton brought

Coral in for another interrogation on January 29, 1981. In the interview, Coral admitted to Bunton that he was suffering and had issues, but he wouldn't say anything about the murders. Buntan refused to back down, talking to him for hours on end. Eventually, Coral broke down, sobbing, asking to see his mother. This might have been related to what Freud termed a psychological regression. Freud theorized that during times of stress, adults revert to childlike behaviors and responses that they remember from childhood. Regressive behaviors can be unconscious attempts by adults to avoid difficult situations or stressors. It seems that Coral's inability to cope with the threat of being caught and the pressure to maintain is

innocence pushed him into a childlike reaction. Unsure how to proceed, Bunton thought that if he allowed Coral to see his mother, he might feel safe enough to finally confess, but his decision backfired. After five hours of interrogation, Bunton let Coral visit with his mother, but after having some contact with a stable figure from his childhood, Coral shut down completely and refused to talk to Bunton anymore. With no physical evidence and no confession, there can be case against Coral dried up, and with it, their resources. Warrens expired, and without more murders motivating the investigation, the department

couldn't justify the continued expense. Still, Bunton relentlessly pursued Coral on his own. He approached Coral in grocery stores and around town. He thought if he continued to apply pressure with casual interviews in public places, Coral would eventually crack. And he did. But not of the way he did. he hoped. On March 10th, 1981, Bunton spotted Coral at a payphone while outside the courthouse

and confronted him. Coral lost his temper. He felt trapped and knew Bunton wouldn't stop stalking him. He couldn't stay here. His only way out was to run. 27-year-old Coral went from that payphone straight to the airport and jumped on a plane out of Michigan. He didn't even stop to tell his mother or friends he was leaving. He stopped in Colwood, West Virginia to get some money from his grandmother. Then he hopped on another plane, this time to Houston, Texas. Back in Michigan, Bunton was in the dark. Coral was nowhere to be found, and his family knew nothing.

It seemed he had disappeared into thin air. Finally, in April of 1981, Bunton found a forwarding address for Coral, directing his mail to an apartment in Houston. Bunton didn't want Coral to slip away, so he contacted the... the Houston PD and sent over their entire case history on Coral. Detective Doug Bostock took up the mantle and continued to keep tabs on Coral. But as far as he could tell, Coral was living a normal life. For the first six months in Texas, Coral put down roots and kept his head down. He worked several mechanic jobs with trucking and vehicle companies over the summer and fall.

Eventually, Coral ended up in Eagle Lake, a city just outside of Houston. While Detective Bostock watched him, Carl's behavior was unremarkable. He simply went to work and went home. But that was all about to change. After months of stress under the careful watch of police in both Michigan and Texas, Coral was ready to give in to his murderous impulses once more. Lucky for him, in 1981, Houston was the perfect place for a serial killer to hide. It was one of the fastest growing cities, and violent crime was for

far outpacing the authorities. It was dubbed murder capital of the United States by the national press. With over 700 homicides a year, Coral's murders were sure to be a drop in the bucket. He was finally settled in and ready to roam the highways of a new city. The slasher was poised for a comeback. Up next, Coral's final murder spree begins. Now back to the story. Late in the summer of 1981, 27-year-old Coral Eugene Watts was settled into his new home near Houston, Texas. After months with no incriminating or strange activities, the Texas PD relaxed their watch on him,

which was convenient because Coral was ready to get back to killing. This particular itch had gone unscratched for the better part of a year, but he soon settled into a familiar pattern. He found a girlfriend to spend time with during the day and went out hunting victims at night. Coral met Sheila Williams at church. The two began dating shortly after and things got serious. But Coral didn't spend most nights with Sheila. Instead, he spent them canvassing the city.

With lots of road to drive and countless women out alone, Coral picked up right where he left off. On September 5, 1981, Coral spotted 22. year old Linda Tilly alone in her car. He started to follow her, but had no idea how far she would take him. Linda was driving home to Austin, over 100 miles away. Coral tailed her for the entire journey, patiently waiting for his moment. When she finally made it home, he pounced. Coral and Linda struggled briefly before he drowned her in the pool outside her apartment building. And this was only the beginning of his spree. Starting in January of 1982, bodies of women began to pile up in the surrounding counties. Like his previous victims, they were often found exactly where he attacked

them in front of their homes or in the bushes of neighborhood sidewalks. Curiously, Coral's method of killing was evolving. Coral was using his knives less and less, finding new enjoyment in strangling and drowning. Among his next victims, 27-year-old, Phyllis Tam was strangled and hung by her tub top in a park, and 25-year-old Margaret Fossi was found strangled in front of her apartment. Then 20-year-old Elena Samander's strangled body was almost compacted by a garbage man when she was emptied into his truck from a dumpster. At the time, the police didn't make the connection between any of the victims. So 28-year-old Coral continued to fly under the radar as spring bloomed in Texas.

Texas. He moved in with his girlfriend, Sheila, and her daughter, and began referring to them as his wife and child. At last, Coral's life had a sense of normalcy, for him. His relationship with Sheila didn't seem to have the same issues his earlier marriages had. Sheila was infatuated. He continued to work regularly, and now he had his murderous outlet back. Coral relaxed into his new routine, but then he got careless, cocky. He was reckless with the crime scenes and even with his victims. In the early morning of March 27, 1982, Coral stabbed a young woman named Anna Liddette to death.

Even covered in Anna's blood, he still wasn't satisfied. As he drove away from Anna's body, he noticed Glenda Kirby walking alone. When she heard footsteps behind her, Glenda turned to see a bloody man running at her. Coral tackled her to the ground. Glenda struggled under Coral's weight, trying to break free. But slick as his arms and hands were with blood, he couldn't hold on. Glenda took advantage of the horrific gore and started to wriggle free. With a little force, she slipped right out of his wet hands.

She crawled away on the sidewalk and limped off to safety. With his thoughts racing and rage pulsing, Coral returned to his car and drove home. However, this failure wouldn't slow him down. A couple of months later, at dawn on May 23rd, Coral waited in the bushes at the Hammerley Walk Apartments in Houston. He had seen Lori Lister driving alone and followed her to the building. Before she could get out of her car, Coral ran into the shadows in front of the complex and waited.

As Lori came up the pathway to her unit, Coral jumped out of the darkness and put her in a strangling. hold. He demanded to know which apartment was hers. Lori quickly assessed her options. She was afraid Coral would murder her if she didn't bring him up to the apartment, but she had a roommate, 18-year-old Melinda Aguilar, and was fearful for her safety as well as her own. She was torn. Despite the early hour, Melinda was already awake inside the apartment. Lori directed Coral up to her unit, but as he squeezed her neck tighter, she fainted. Coral took her keys and rushed up to the door. The sun was coming up,

and he had to get her unconscious form out of sight quickly. Inside the apartment, Melinda heard what she thought was Lori trying to get in, so she went to open the door. She had no idea Coral was waiting on the other side. Melinda opened the door, catching Coral by surprise for a second. Then he burst through and put Melinda in a chokehold while holding a knife to her. Coral pulled the teenager into a bedroom as he squeezed tighter on her throat. Melinda knew he would kill both her and Lori if she didn't escape. Thinking quickly, she decided her best chance was to pretend that she had passed out. Melinda let her body go limp and closed her eyes as Coral threw her down in the room.

He tied her hands together behind her back with a wire hanger, then left to go get Lori, still unconscious downstairs. From the bedroom, Melinda could hear Lori's feet hitting every step as Coral dragged her body up the stairs. Realizing that Lori was passed out, she knew that it was up to her to figure out an escape. Melinda watched on in horror as Coral pulled Lori into the bathroom and proceeded to fill up the bathtub. Melinda could hear Coral making sounds of excitement. He was giggling and hyping himself up to drown Lori. He had not one, but two victims. now, and he was going to enjoy it.

Melinda knew time was running out for her to get help. She later said, I was thinking, if he took me in there, there was no way we were going to get out of there alive. As the water noisily filled the tub, Melinda got up and quietly closed and locked the bedroom door without coral noticing. Then she turned towards the bedroom's balcony. They were on the second story, but she figured she could make the jump. With her hands still, Tide, she opened the sliding door and got out onto the porch. Melinda could hear Coral beginning to drown Lori in the tub. She knew time was running out.

Melinda jumped over the railing. She stood up hastily and ran toward the first person she saw, a woman drinking her morning coffee in a neighboring balcony. Melinda yelled to call the police. Her roommate was being drowned by an attacker in their apartment. Hearing the commotion outside, Coral went to check on Melinda. He left Lori half drowned in the bathtub and ragefully kicked down the locked door. He was horrified and angry to see Melinda was gone, but he was even more panicked when he looked out the sliding door to see two cop cars pull up.

The police were already downstairs and questioning the occupants of the unit below. Coral ran out from the upstairs apartment, jumped half the stairs, and sprinted away. The cops gave chase as Coral tried to make it to his car, but he was. but he was parked right by the police vehicles. He kept changing directions, trying to throw them off, but a cop was right on his tail. Finally, Coral ran into a dead end in the complex. It was all over. Coral put his hands up and dropped to the ground. He didn't resist as he was cuffed and led to the police car.

Coral was arrested for burglary with intent to murder. Back in the apartment, Lori's neighbor ran upstairs to find her unconscious in the bathtub, she pulled her out of the water and hit her a couple of times on the back to try to revive her. After a few 10 seconds, Lori woke coughing up water and blood. Outside, Lori's attacker was spirited away from the scene to answer for his actions and perhaps shed some light on his other brutal attacks in the Houston area. After Coral's arrest, police hoped to search his home for evidence that may be helpful in other convictions. But his wife, Sheila, wouldn't let them in without a warrant. When they returned with one the next day, Sheila had completely cleared out the house.

Back at square one, the judge in charge of Coral's case ordered a mandatory psychological evaluation. Coral was carted off to the maximum security unit of the Rusk State Hospital's psychiatric wing. Coral's evaluation included a clinical interview, staff observation, and an IQ test. The clinical director of the unit, Dr. James A. Hunter, found that something wasn't adding up with Coral's IQ test. In his observations, he assessed Coral to be of normal adult intelligence. But Coral's full-scale IQ had been measured at just 68.

The score legally qualified him as mentally handicapped in the state of Texas. However, it's possible that Coral had falsified his IQ test to appear incompetent to a avoid standing trial. A study performed by the University of New Orleans Department of Psychology found that the IQ test was not consistently capable of identifying false exaggerations by patients, known as malingering. Another psychologist Coral saw Dr. Jerome and Sherman identified a wealth of Coral's issues. He said that Coral harbored a great deal of internalized hostility, which was directed solely at women who he attached an evil quality to. Since the police had caught Coral red-handed for attempted murder, they now focused on

pinning other murders on him. Given his reputation in Michigan, they wanted a chance to question him about some of their other unsolved homicides. So after Coral was deemed fit to stand trial, he was offered a plea deal from the Harris County Assistant District Attorney. He would be granted immunity for his other crimes if he pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to murder and confessed to his additional murders. In exchange, he would receive the maximum sentence of 60 years. Carl took the deal. He sat down in a room with detectives and confessed to 14 other murders, some of which were still missing persons cases. Over the course of 28 hours, Carl described the methods of killing in detail and later took investigators

to find some of the undiscovered burials. At some point during his confession, Coral boasted that he had killed more people than there were on the fingers and toes of the people in the room. If there was any truth to Coral's taunts, he had only revealed the names of a mere handful of his many victims. For years, the authorities in Texas and Michigan continued to question if their cold cases

were unidentified victims of corals. Coral initially agreed to confess to the Michigan murders for a similar immunity deal, but Detective Bunton and his department weren't having a bar of it. They denied the offer. They refused to grant immunity to a confessed murderer. Following his confession on September 3rd, 1982, 28-year-old Coral Eugene Watts was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Coral's story should end here,

But even after admitting to as many as 80 murders, Coral found a loophole in his conviction. When he originally entered his guilty plea, Coral had not been legally notified that the water he tried to drown Laurie Listerine was recorded as a deadly weapon. This oversight opened the door for Coral to appeal his conviction on a technicality. The appeal was successful and Coral's charge was reduced to merely burglary. Thanks to his immunity deal, Coral now qualified for mandatory early release in 2006. The citizens of Houston and the families of Coral's victims protested the release. They petitioned to change the law or to make Coral's case a legal exception, but there was nothing that could be done. In a last-ditch effort, officials in Houston reached out to the Michigan District Attorney's Office to see if they held any open cases that could be tied to Coral.

The office had a wealth of cold cases, but none with sufficient evidence to prove Coral's involvement. So, the office aired a PSA, asking anyone with more information on the cold cases to come forward. The very next day, they received a call from a man named Joseph Foy. In 1979, Foy witnessed the murder of Helen Dutcher in an alley outside his Detroit apartment. At the time, he got a good look at the man as he fled and helped the police with a scam. that looked a lot like Coral. Foy never forgot the case, and in fact had badgered police for years

about finding the guilty party. When the chance finally came for justice, 25 years later, Foy was only too happy to help with the case. In 2004, 51-year-old Coral was finally charged for the murder of Helen Dutcher. With Joseph Foy's testimony

and unequivocal identification, Coral was found guilty of murder in the first degree. Coral was then charged with the murder of his first victim, Gloria Steele, who he stabbed to death in 1974. A jury returned their guilty verdict in less than a day. Coral spent the rest of his life in prison. In 2007, he died behind bars.

The full victim count of Coral Eugene Watts may never be truly known. His legacy is Ann Arbor's Sunday morning slasher, proved to be only a small piece of his horrific history. It's hard to tell where fact and fiction converge in this story, even in Coral's confession. There's no telling just how many families were affected by his brand of brutal violence. But it's safe to say that few were sorry when he died. It might have felt like a wave of calm and a long relief.

Thanks again for tuning into serial killers. We'll be back on Monday with a new episode. For more information on Coral Eugene Watts, amongst the many sources we used, we found Evil Eyes by Corey Mitchell, extremely helpful to our research. You can find more episodes of serial killers and all other podcast originals for free on Spotify. Not only does Spotify already have all of your favorite music, but now Spotify is making it easy for you to enjoy all of your favorite podcast originals, like serial killers for free.

From your phone, desktop, or smart speaker. To stream serial killers on Spotify, just open the app and type serial killers in the search bar. We'll see you next time. Have a killer week. Serial Killers was created by Max Cutler

and is a parcast studio's original. Executive producers include Max and Ron Cutler, sound design by Nick Johnson, with production assistance by Ron Shapiro, Carly Madden, and Joshua Kern. This episode of serial killers was written by Isabella Menichello, with writing assistance by Abigail Cannon

and stars Greg Paulson and Vanessa Richardson. A beloved 75-year-old man washing up getting ready for bed is brutally beaten and killed. Despite an exhaustive investigation, the killer avoids arrest and then strikes again. I'm Global News crime reporter Nancy Hicks. You might listen to a lot of true crime podcasts this year, but they're not crime beat.

Search for and follow the award-winning podcast Crime Beat on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts. Do you want to hear something spooky? Some Monster, it reminded me of Bigfoot. Monsters Among Us is a weekly podcast featuring true stories of the paranormal. One of the boys started to exhibit demonic possession. Stories straight from the witnesses' mouths themselves. Something very snake-like lifted its head out of the water.

Hosted by me, your guide, Derek Hayes. Somehow I lost eight whole hours. Listen now on Spotify or wherever you get your podcast.