January 16, 2012 Charlotte Flying Biscuit cafe manager murdered-co-worker sought by police www.privateofficer.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. Jan 16 2012– Police are still looking for the man detectives believe robbed and murdered a pregnant restaurant manager.
25-year-old Danielle Watson just heard her baby’s heartbeat for the first time on Monday.
Police believe a co-worker, Mark Cox, murdered her late Friday night.
For the first time, prosecutors will be able to use a new state law to charge Cox with two counts of murder one for Watson and one for her unborn baby.
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act took effect in December. It allows prosecutors to file a murder charge on behalf of an unborn child, even if the mother isn’t aware of the pregnancy.
The law says the child’s life begins at conception. Watson was two months pregnant.
“I would say North Carolina has the most restrictive version of the Unborn Victims of Violence Bill out of all the states,” said Jeff Gerber, a political lobbyist who helped get the bill passed in April.
Gerber said North Carolina is now the 37th state to have some sort of legislation allowing prosecutors to file charges on behalf of unborn fetuses.
Gerber said the law is a tool to help prosecutors keep murderers behind bars, and it will not interfere with a woman’s right to choose.
“Every single time this bill has been challenged in the judicial system it has been upheld as constitutionally allowable,” he said.
Watson worked as a manager at The Flying Biscuit cafe in Ballantyne. She called her fiancé before her death, but Smith told Eyewitness News he only heard background noise.
“It didn’t sound like anything [suspicious],” Keith Smith said. “It’s hard to explain. It was just muffled, but it was definitely a conversation. Not a heated one. Just something going on. I heard the word kitchen.”
His texts went unanswered, and his concern grew. After two hours, he called 911 and asked them to go to The Flying Biscuit.
Police said the dispatcher gave the responding officer the wrong address. Officers didn’t get to the scene of the crime until more than six hours later.
Police said Cox stole Watson’s car and fled the scene. Both the Highway Patrol and police departments in both North and South Carolina are on alert for Watson’s 1997 baby blue Chevy Cavalier with North Carolina license plate number: ZYX1952. Mark Cox was convicted in 2009 of robbery with a dangerous weapon. He served three years in prison and was just released back in November.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 704-432-TIPS or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Source:WSOC-TV.com
Tags: Charlotte Flying Biscuit cafe manager murdered-co-worker sought by police, Danielle Watson, murder suspect Mark Cox
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