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Jeremiah Watkins 1972 - 1985

Jeremiah Watkins of Terra Alta, Preston County, West Virginia was born on August 22, 1972 in Morgantown, Monongalia County, and died at age 13 years old on November 12, 1985 in Terra Alta, Preston County.

Jeremiah Watkins

Jeremiah Matthew Watkins, Jerry

Terra Alta, Preston County, West Virginia 26764

August 22, 1972

Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States

November 12, 1985

Terra Alta, Preston County, West Virginia, 26764, United States

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Jeremiah Watkins Jeremiah Watkins (1972 - 1985)

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Jeremiah Watkins' History: 1972 - 1985

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Introduction

Jeremiah Matthew Watkins was the son of James Edward Watkins (1941 - 1976) and had one half-sister. "Jerry's" body was discovered on November 12, 1985, in a shallow grave close to the railroad tracks in Terra Alta, West Virginia. The autopsy revealed that he had been stabbed and hit on the head. His case remained unsolved until February 2023, when the Preston County Police finally solved the murder. Through their investigations, the police discovered statements that led them to David Adams, who was 18 years old at the time of the murder and in 2023 is 56. Adams confessed to the crime, stating that he and "Jerry" had a disagreement over a stolen bicycle. Adams hit "Jerry" in the face before stabbing him in a nearby shed. For further details on this tragic incident and the subsequent resolution of the case, please refer to Arrest made in 1985 cold case murder. Also, refer to a recent memory by the biological daughter of David Adams, the man accused of murdering Jeremiah, on Memory about Jeremiah Watkins. There was an update on the case later in the day on February 14, 2023, on Westover man confesses to 1985 cold case murder.
08/22

1972

Birthday

August 22, 1972

Birthdate

Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Jeremiah was Caucasian.
Nationality & Locations

Born in Morgantown, West Virginia, Jerry was a lifelong resident of West Virginia. He was killed in Terra Alta, West Virginia, which is not far from the Maryland border.
Early Life & Education

Based on his age, Jeremiah should have been in Junior High School when he was murdered.
Military Service

He never served in the military.
Professional Career

Jeremiah was a student, age 13, when he was killed.
Personal Life & Family

Jeremiah had one half-sister.
11/12

1985

Death

November 12, 1985

Death date

Murder - stabbed and hit over the head

Cause of death

Terra Alta, Preston County, West Virginia 26764, United States
Death location

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Obituary

Jeremiah Watkins, born on August 22, 1972, in Morgantown, Monongalia County, passed away on November 12, 1985, at the age of 13 in Terra Alta, Preston County. He was a resident of Terra Alta, Preston County, West Virginia. Jeremiah's tragic death was the result of a stabbing and head injury, which went unsolved until the Preston County Police made an arrest in February 2023. Despite his young age, Jeremiah's life had a significant impact on those who knew him, and he will be missed dearly.

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3 Memories, Stories & Photos about Jeremiah

Kathy Pinna

31.2k+ favorites

02/15/2023

Jeremiah "Jerry"Watkins

The Preston County Sheriff's office provided this photo of Jerry Watkins, murdered in 1985. The killer murder was solved in 2023.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Kathy Pinna

31.2k+ favorites

02/15/2023

Arrest made in 1985 cold case murder

Arrest made in 1985 Preston County cold case murder of teen by Alexandra Weaver, updated Feb 14, 2023:

TERRA ALTA, W. Va. (WBOY) — A Westover man has been charged with second degree murder in connection to a cold case from 1985 where a 13-year-old was found dead from a stab wound, buried in a shallow hole near railroad tracks in Terra Alta.

The body of Jeremiah Watkins was found on Tuesday, Nov. 12 of 1985, according to a criminal complaint. An autopsy determined that in addition to the stab wound, Watkins had suffered a brain bleed from an apparent blow to the head. Deputies say they started working on the case again earlier this month and found statements that led them to suspect David Adams, now 56, so they brought him in for an interview under oath.

On Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, Adams, according to a complaint, provided a statement to law enforcement saying that he was at his residence, and struck Jeremiah in the face before taking the boy to a shed where the boy was stabbed. According to a Facebook post by the Preston County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began with an argument over a stolen bicycle.

Adams then further admitted to dragging the teenager’s body and placing it in a shallow hole. According to the complaint, Adams was one of several people that law enforcement originally interviewed while investigating Watkins’ death. Adams was 18 when the incident happened, based on his birth date. Back in 2004, West Virginia State Police Sgt. Danny Swiger, told The Preston County Journal that Watkins’ death was “One case I would really like to see solved.”

Adams is being held in the North Central Regional Jail in lieu of $1,000,000 bond. The Preston County Sheriff’s Office also thanked the West Virginia State Police and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office.

Comments

Kim Costello

11 favorites

02/15/2023

I want to say that the case was solved in February 2023, not 2013, when my estranged biological father, David Adams, finally admitted to what he did and what my family has long suspected although my mother believed his innocence. Now he's trying to drag my mother with him after he has admitted a second time but she will prove her innocence. Trust she's never been so disgusted as someone so much as my father because he would brutally beat her and he molested me at almost 7 years old, his own daughter, and now she finally believes he murdered Jerry. She finally divorced Dave after a lot of therapy when I was 8 (Im 36 now). I am happy for the boy and his family and hope that they find an ounce of peace. Bless you all and hold your loved ones close.

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Kathy Pinna

208 followers 31.2k+ favorites

02/16/2023

Kim,

My heart goes out to you for what you experienced and what you must feel about your mother's and Jerry's pain at the hands of the man who is your biological father. I hope that the resolution and probable consequent punishment can ease some of the pain. Blessings.

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Kathy Pinna

31.2k+ favorites

02/16/2023

Westover man confesses to 1985 cold case murder

The following article appeared in The Dominion Post, Morgantown, West Virginia, on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 7:34 p.m. PST:

Westover man confesses to 1985 cold case murder of teen Jeremiah 'Jerry' Watkins By Erin Cleavenger, The Dominion Post

Feb. 14—"Because it wasn't solved."

That's why Preston County deputies chose to reopen the nearly four-decade-old cold case murder of 13-year-old Jeremiah "Jerry " Matthew Watkins, Sheriff Paul "Moe " Pritt said. Now, 37 years after Jerry's body was found in a shallow hole by the railroad tracks in Terra Alta, police say a Westover man has confessed to the killing.

According to an article published by The Dominion Post on Nov. 13, 1985, the teen had been reported missing just a few days prior to his body being discovered by searchers. An autopsy of Jerry's body at the time showed he suffered a brain bleed from an apparent blow to the head, with the ultimate cause of death being a stab wound to the back.

The case had gone unsolved, despite efforts from several officers and departments. But when Captain T.N. Tichnell began reviewing the case again at the beginning of February 2023, he found a few inconsistencies with statements from David Monroe Adams, 56, of Westover. Adams, who was 18 at the time, was interviewed by Tichnell several times before eventually confessing to the crime. Adams allegedly told the officer that an argument had started over a stolen bicycle at his then-residence in Terra Alta, before he struck the boy in the face and took him to a shed and stabbed him.

Adams further admitted "he then dragged Jeremiah's body and placed it in the shallow hole, " the complaint said. Sheriff Pritt said he was unable to go into more detail about the investigation at this time, however Adams has been charged with second-degree murder and further charges are anticipated as the probe continues. Adams is currently being held on a $1, 000, 000 bond at North Central Regional Jail. In addition to the Preston County Sheriff's Department, the West Virginia State Police and the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department assisted with the case.

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Jeremiah Watkins' Family Tree & Friends

Jeremiah Watkins' Family Tree

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Jeremiah Watkins Aug 22, 1972 - Nov 12, 1985

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Jeremiah's Friends

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Other Biographies

Other Jeremiah Watkins Biographies

Watkins, Jeremiah (Born 1984) Watkins, Jeremiah (Born circa 1920)

Watkins, Jeremiah (Oct 21, 1978 - Dec 1, 2005)

Other Watkins Family Biographies

Watkins, Lucinda (Born Apr 7, 1809) Watkins, Bryant (Born Nov 6, 1848) Watkins, Mintha (Born Mar 5, 1916) Watkins, Homer (Born Nov 6, 1848) Watkins, Sherry (Born Oct 19, 1963) Watkins, L. (Born Feb 28, 1910) Watkins, Elizabeth (Born Apr 30, 1858) Watkins, Allyn (Feb 28, 1910 - Jun 4, 1999) Watkins, Leonidas (Born Sep 27, 1880) Watkins, Emma (Born Mar 18, 1889)

Watkins, Harry (Born Mar 5, 1920) Watkins, Belle (Born Aug 12, 1895) Watkins, Benjamin (Born Jun 23, 1883) Watkins, Merle (Mar 29, 1918 - Feb 27, 1996) Watkins, Dorinda (Dec 5, 1844 - Mar 6, 1929) Watkins, John (1742 - 1807) Watkins, Arthur (Dec 5, 1893 - Feb 1974) Watkins, Laurence (Feb 12, 1908 - Aug 1974) Watkins, Charles (Feb 9, 1913 - Dec 1987) Watkins, Roy (Mar 31, 1893 - Dec 1966)

About the AncientFaces Community

Jeremiah Watkins 1972 - 1985

Jeremiah Watkins' History: 1972 - 1985

Introduction

Birthday

Ethnicity & Family History

Nationality & Locations

Early Life & Education

Military Service

Professional Career

Personal Life & Family

Death

Obituary

3 Memories, Stories & Photos about Jeremiah

Jeremiah Watkins' Family Tree & Friends

Jeremiah Watkins' Family Tree

Jeremiah's Friends

Other Jeremiah Watkins Biographies

Other Watkins Family Biographies