On July 8, 2024 South Charlotte commuters were confronted a rather unexpected sight, homicide detectives and crime scene working a murder case on normally quiet Rea Road area of their daily drive.
Police would soon arrest Eric Watson for the murder.
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Police Statement
On July 8th, 2024, Officers responded to the intersection of Rea Rd. and I-485 in reference to disabled vehicle call for service. Upon arriving and inspecting the surrounding area, the victim (Derrick Byas) was located deceased in the woods off the side of Rea Rd.
The victim's vehicle was parked in the right travel lane with the hazard lights on.
Detectives observed gunshot wound to the left side of the victim's head. A discharged cartridge case was located in the victim's vehicle, and another was located next to the victim's body.
The victim's friends and family stated he is known to carry two cell phones. The victim's friends and family provided different phone numbers that had been used to contact the victim previously.
Detectives searched did not locate the victim's cell phones, wallet, or keys to the vehicle at the scene.
Detectives obtained phone records on the three numbers provided by the victim's family.
The victim was located at bar/club known as The Peace Pipe just prior to the incident.
The victim's friends and family advised the victim took an emergency call and left abruptly to go and meet someone. The victim left the bar/club and approximately 2330 hrs. on July 7th, 2024.
Detectives reviewed the victim's records for one of the numbers and located call with at approximately 2318 hrs. on July 7th, 2024. Detectives obtained audio and video from the bar/club that captures the victim on the phone at approximately 2318 hrs.
The victim is speaking about exchanging locations with someone and coming to meet them while on speakerphone. The victim leaves at approximately 2330 hrs. The victim's records show one of the numbers remained at the bar/club and the other numbers traveled from the bar/club and arrived at the scene at around the time of the incident.
Witnesses in the neighborhood of the incident heard shots occurring at around the time of the victim's arrival at approximately 2345 hrs.
A silver sedan is seen leaving the scene with the hazard lights on toward Rea Rd. and Piper Glen Dr. shortly after the shots are heard.
The vehicle makes U-turn and heads towards I-485. The victim's records show the two phone numbers he traveled to the scene with leave the scene and travel down Johnston Rd. outbound from I-485. The records are consistent with vehicle located on Real Time Crime Center cameras that is also consistent with the vehicle leaving the scene.
This vehicle passes through FLOCK cameras and SC Tag: 830 ADG was captured.
The two phone numbers that leave the scene eventually turn off.
The tag comes back to 2020 dark gray Lexus IS300 registered to a female at 848 Kathy Dianne Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707.
Detectives researched and found it was associated with Eric Watson in database available to law enforcement.
Eric Watson lives at 848 Kathy Dianne Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707.
Detectives obtained phone records for (redacted). The records show that the phone number was in the location of the incident at around the time of the incident.
(Redacted) has several records in the area of 848 Kathy Dianne Dr., Fort Mill, SC 29707.
Detectives are seeking charges for Murder and Robbery with Dangerous Weapon.
The victim Derrick Byas was no stranger to CMPD having been arrested a little more than a year before on B&E charges.
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Update
Watson has been held at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center since July 19, 2024 without bond. In February Judge Carla Archie denied Watson's request to set bail.
Early this year attorney George Laughrun joined the defense. Laughrun is as well known and respected criminal defense attorney as the late Bill Diehl.
There's an administrative hearing set for August 7, 2025 but this formality has been pushed back time and time again.
11/07/2024 Reset by Court to 12/19/2024
12/19/2024 Reset by Court to 03/13/2025
03/13/2025 Reset by Court to 05/22/2025
05/22/2025 Reset by Court to 08/07/2025
We will stay on top of this as the case progresses.
That zip code is deceptive. It’s listed as Ft Mill but is firmly in Lancaster County, Indian Land. Apparently the zoning officials there didn’t learn from their northern neighbors and approve anything to be developed all in the name of progress. The housing density, lack of infrastructure and distance from Lancaster proper will make this an accessible location similar to Steele Creek.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn’t take a mind reader to read between the lives here and see a drug transaction gone wrong. Given the cross state residence and lack of cooperation, I would expect Laughrun has pretty good chance of getting this one to walk free. I wonder what the going rate on a 1st degree case is?