Ex-Wife to Testify That Watkins Confessed to Craig White’s Murder

COURT HOUSE —Jesse Watkins’ ex-wife, Karen Fox, testified in a pre-trial hearing that Watkins had confessed to her about the killing of Craig White in 1990.
Fox said that her ex-husband had told her about the murder during an “emotional moment” in their home in 1996. Fox said she was confession to White about an abortion she had before meeting Watkins and he then confessed to killing White.
“There was a lot of guilt,” she said. “I was feeling guilty about murdering a child and he admitted that he killed Craig White.”
She said that Watkins had found out about his girlfriend also being involved with White, his cousin, while he was out of town. Fox testified that Watkins took White out to a field, had him dig a hole and then shot him with a shot gun.
The hole, she testified, “could have been for money or drugs” but couldn’t recall specifically.
She said that Watkins told her that he called “old man Harkins” for help in disposing of the body. Harkins, she said, told Watkins to bring the body to his place, where there was roadwork going on at the time. She said that Watkins used the heavy equipment there to bury the body.
Before burying White’s body, Fox testified, that Watkins noticed the gold chain and locket that his cousin wore. Inside the locket, she said, was a picture of White’s son, Craig White Jr.
“He started to take it off, but then he thought about how much Craig loved his son and he left it on,” Fox said.
“We were both crying about it,” Fox said of the admission. “We talked about how to make it right.”
Fox said that soon after, Watkins’ story changed.
“He told me that Craig had the gun on him and when they were going through a fence, Craig shot himself and went into convulsions. Jesse said he shot him to put him out of his misery.”
Fox testified that she had started dating Watkins in 1991, married him in 1997 and got divorced in 2000. They have two children together. Their relationship, she said was tumultuous and they had, “at least 10 times” broken up and reconciled.
At one point in their relationship, Fox said that she had tried to leave with her children.
“I had one child in the car and one in my arms when I heard the shotgun click,” she said.
Watkins, she said, pointed the gun at her head and said “You know that I killed Craig and I’ll kill you too.”
At hearing those words, Fox said she dropped to her knees and stayed. She testified that she was finally able to part ways with Watkins in 1999.
Before being called as a witness, Fox said that she received a visit from Watkin’s youngest daughter who asked here “where her heart was” regarding the trial.
Fox said that Watkin’s daughter said she was sent by her father.
Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten ruled that Fox’s testimony would be admissible.
Watkins has been held at the Cape May County Jail since April 2007. He turned himself in to authorities the day after a grand jury indicted him on first-degree murder.
White, 18, was last seen Feb. 23, 1990, in Whitesboro, leaving his home in the 400 block of Washington Avenue in a pickup truck driven by Watkins. His body was never found.
Contact Suit at: (609) 886-8600 ext. 25 or lsuit@cmcherald.com