Missing Haywood Co. woman's body found, ex-husband charged with murder

Kevin Watson, the 44-year-old Haywood County man suspected in the disappearance of his former wife, was arrested on Jan. 20 on a first-degree murder warrant after his ex-wife's body was found.

On Jan. 23, the sheriff’s office recovered a body on the Hillville Loop property, confirming its identity as 34-year-old Britney Watson, who had been reported missing since Jan. 7.

According to the press release, the identification “was obtained via fingerprints.”

More:Haywood County Sheriff's search for man suspected in ex-wife's disappearance

At the time of Kevin Watson’s arrest, sheriff’s deputies were still in search of the body of Britney Watson.

In a press release from Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett Jr., it was revealed that the sheriff’s office had received a call from Watson’s friend who disclosed his alleged desire to turn himself into authorities.

After deputies arrived at the caller’s address in Tipton County near Mason, Tennessee, Watson was arrested and taken to the Haywood County Jail. He is currently under no bond, meaning either a judge has not yet determined a bond or, given the severity of a crime, will not be set at all and the opportunity for bail is inherently denied.

After abandoning his truck at the embankment of the Hatchie River, it was presumed that Watson’s disappearance was an apparent suicide, Garrett said over a week ago, after Watson left a cryptic note in his truck. In a Jan.17 press conference held at the end of Big Eddy Road in Whiteville, the sheriff’s department scoured the river using sonar equipment to locate his body but found nothing.

Watson’s court date will be held at the Haywood County Justice Complex in Brownsville on Jan.31.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Body of Britney Watson is found and her ex-husband has been arrested