Man Accused Of Raping, Murdering Attorney Hyperventilates, Cries During Guilty Verdict
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) - A man with a long criminal history accused of raping and killing a family attorney has been found guilty on multiple charges.
Prosecutors say Warren Watson, 54, killed 61-year-old Claudia Miller in her office in Lakewood back in March of 2013. A cleaning crew found her body in a storage room.
Watson has been found guilty on the following charges:
- 1 count First-Degree Murder – after deliberation
- 1 count First-Degree Murder – felony murder, sexual assault
- 1 count First-Degree Murder – felony murder, robbery
- 2 counts Sexual Assault – serious bodily injury, weapon
- 1 count Sexual Assault – force
- 2 counts Aggravated Robbery
- 7 counts Identity Theft
- 1 count Tampering with Evidence
According to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, Watson had an appointment to meet Miller for the first time the day her body was discovered. He arrived late and showed up after Miller's secretary had left for the day. He admitted to detectives that he threatened Miller with a fake gun, tied her up, strangled her and fondled her, according to the indictment.
"During the 12-day trial, the jury heard evidence that Watson had been planning for months to seek out a female attorney in the practice of family law. His plans included sexual fantasy and robbery of the female attorney," Pam Russell with the district attorney's office said in a statement. "He used a false name, and the title of doctor, hoping to make a female feel more comfortable meeting with him on short notice."
The coroner determined the primary cause of Miller's death was strangulation.
Watson was identified by authorities after they released surveillance images of him using Miller's credit cards. He was recognized by a woman who said she stayed with him at a hotel, according to the indictment. He was arrested in Caldwell, Idaho, on a parole violation.
Watson had testified in his own defense before lawyers delivered closing arguments.
A CBS4 investigation into Miller's murder found that before the murder Colorado's parole board had released Watson from prison several years early, terming him a "low risk" for recidivism. But the CBS4 probe found that Watson had a long history of escaping from parole situations.
According to Miller's family, Watson began crying and hyperventilating when the verdict was read.
"After seeing this and what went on I'm pretty sure that if he was ever let out someone would be a victim somehow, some way," Miller's son Brian Miller told CBS4. "We now know that he can't do that to other people and that's the best thing that came out of this. That's the top priority. It's unfortunate that it had to happen to my mom, but it doesn't have to happen to anyone else."
His habitual criminal hearing is set for Sept. 2. That's when the judge will set a sentencing date. Watson has seven prior felonies. He faces life In prison without parole.
