Basic Information
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Carl Eugene Watts |
| Nickname | “Coral” |
| Date of birth | November 7, 1953 |
| Place of birth | Killeen, Texas, U.S. |
| Date of death | September 21, 2007 (aged 53) |
| Primary locations of crimes | Michigan and Texas (1974–1982) |
| Criminal status | Convicted murderer; imprisoned until death |
| Diagnoses reported | Antisocial personality disorder (noted in psychiatric evaluations) |
| Known victims (range) | Convicted for multiple murders; suspected in dozens to over 100 cases |
Life, Crimes, and Context
Carl Eugene Watts is an infamous American criminal. He had a significant childhood sickness and academic struggles as a 1953 youngster from a divorced household. He graduated from high school aged 19 in 1973 and briefly attended college on a football scholarship before behavioral and disciplinary troubles derailed him. Athleticism and occasional work contrasted with his later-famous aggression.
Watts worked intermittently and lived modestly as an adult. He worked for transport and oil firms, a municipal bus system, and physical labor and mechanic jobs. Although he was poor, his frequent moves and short-term stays allowed him to commit crimes in multiple states. Legal psychiatric exams found antisocial personality pathology, and court records show a history of assaults and violent behavior before murder convictions.
Watts was accused in a string of murders from 1974 to 1982 by law enforcement and courts in the early 1980s. His 1982 arrest and plea agreements included confessions to many homicides, some of which were later challenged or re-evaluated. Several murder convictions earned him life sentences. Watts died of prostate cancer in prison on September 21, 2007, at 53, leaving many cases unsettled and concerns about his misdeeds.
Early Life and Education Details
Health trauma and upheaval plagued Watts’ youth. After his parents divorced while he was a toddler, he and his younger sister had meningitis, which family accounts and later reports relate to lifelong cognitive and behavioral alteration. He was bullied, put back a year, and had reading and classroom issues.
Key educational points:
- High school graduation: 1973 (aged 19).
- Short-term college attendance: Lane College (football scholarship) and Western Michigan University; dismissed for disciplinary reasons.
- Athletic achievements: High-school sports standout; Golden Gloves boxing at the amateur level; brief college football participation.
These markers show intermittent promise interrupted by behavioral instability.
Family and Personal Relationships
Watts has a broken family. His mother and stepfather, whom he disliked, lived with him. His mother remarried, giving him one full sister and two half-sisters. A six-month marriage in 1979, a brief love union that produced a daughter the same year, and other short-term partnerships have strained adult relationships.
| Family Member | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Eugene Watts | Father | U.S. Army private; left early, minimal ongoing contact |
| Dorothy Mae Young | Mother | Teacher; primary caregiver after divorce |
| Norman Caesar | Stepfather | Mechanic; source of family tension |
| Sharon Watts | Sister | Younger sibling; shared childhood health struggles |
| Two half-sisters | Half-siblings | Born after mother’s remarriage |
| Valeria Goodwill | Wife (1979–1980) | Marriage dissolved after six months |
| Nakisha Watts | Daughter | Born 1979 to a childhood friend; limited ongoing relationship |
Short-term partnerships were often tense or unhealthy. Family narratives stress Watts’ turmoil, secrecy, and social isolation as he grew up.
Criminal Timeline and Key Dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1953 | Born November 7 in Killeen, Texas |
| 1961–1962 | Severe meningitis in childhood; later behavioral change reported |
| 1973 | High school graduation (age 19); college scholarship awarded |
| 1974 | College expulsion; began pattern of transient jobs and reports of assault |
| 1979 | Daughter Nakisha born; married and divorced in same period |
| 1981–1982 | Movement to Texas; escalation in violent crimes reported |
| 1982 | Arrested and implicated in multiple murders; confessions and plea deals |
| 2007 | Died in prison from prostate cancer on September 21 (age 53) |
| 2025 | Renewed public attention via documentary coverage and media retrospectives |
The timeline compresses legal and investigative milestones alongside personal events to clarify how life events intersected with criminal activity.
Legal Outcomes and Psychiatric Findings
Watts had many convictions in different jurisdictions. Plea agreements and testimony resulted in extended jail sentences for multiple killings. Psychiatric exams throughout judicial proceedings revealed antisocial tendencies and violent fantasies, which prompted prosecution and institutional treatment. His convictions for important killings stood despite later confessions being questioned.
Public Memory and Recent Attention
Documentary series and increased reporting on unsolved cases and victims’ families keep Watts relevant. In 2025, his suspected role in many homicides prompted discussions regarding investigative gaps and victim identification. Documentaries spark social media mentions, but his 2007 death stopped judicial proceedings.
FAQ
Who was Carl Eugene Watts?
In the 1970s and early 1980s, American serial murderer Carl Eugene Watts was convicted of many killings and suspected of dozens more.
When and where was he born?
He was born on November 7, 1953, in Killeen, Texas.
What were his early life challenges?
He experienced his parents’ divorce, suffered severe meningitis in childhood, repeated a grade, and had ongoing academic and behavioral problems.
What kinds of jobs did he hold?
He worked in blue-collar roles such as mechanic, transport worker, oil-field employee, and municipal bus mechanic.
Did he have any family?
Yes; his family included a mother, a stepfather, a sister, two half-sisters, a short-lived marriage, and one daughter born in 1979.
When was he arrested and convicted?
He was arrested in 1982, confessed to multiple homicides during plea negotiations, and was later convicted on several murder charges.
What diagnosis did psychiatric evaluations indicate?
Evaluations documented antisocial personality traits and a pattern of violent behavior consistent with that diagnosis.
When did he die?
He died in prison from prostate cancer on September 21, 2007, at the age of 53.
