TERRA ALTA, WV (LOOTPRESS) – On Tuesday, November 12, 1985, the body of thirteen-year-old Jerimiah “Jerry” Matthew Watkins was found in a shallow hole near the railroad tracks in Terra Alta, WV.
An autopsy of Jerry’s body revealed he had been murdered by a stab wound to his back. Despite law enforcement’s efforts at that time – which also included helping countless families cope with the recent devastating flood – the case remained unsolved.
At the beginning of February 2023, Preston County Sheriff’s Office Captain T. N. Tichnell began a thorough review of this case. During the review, he noted a number of inconsistent statements made by Mr. David Monroe Adams, now 56 years old living in Westover, WV.
At the time of the murder, Mr. Adams was 18 years old and living in Terra Alta, WV. As part of renewing the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple interviews with Mr. Adams and he eventually confessed that an argument that started over a stolen bicycle resulted in Jerry being taken into a shed and murdered.
Mr. Adams was charged with Second Degree Murder and is currently incarcerated at the North Central Regional Jail in lieu of a $1,000,000 bond. Further charges are anticipated and the investigation continues.
In the 37 years since his murder, countless agencies and organizations have contributed to this investigation. The Preston County Sheriff’s Office extended their thanks to the West Virginia State Police and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office for their recent assistance in this case.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Captain Tichnell at 304-329-1611, ext. 2152.
