48 Hours Burden of Proof
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Jan 15, 2026 Jim Watson, a part-time police officer and locksmith, shares his harrowing firsthand account of being tried for the murder of his wife, Beverly, who vanished under mysterious circumstances. Sheila Ross, the prosecutor, provides insight into the legal strategies involved in pursuing justice with no body or direct evidence. They explore the troubling marriage dynamics, the peculiar circumstances surrounding Jim's behavior, and the challenging efforts to build a case against him without concrete proof. The gripping courtroom drama ultimately reveals the complexities of justice.
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Last Night At Home
- Beverly Watson vanished after an argument with Jim Watson on January 18, 1997, and Jim reported her missing days later.
- Friends immediately suspected Jim and said Beverly warned them he would "put her body someplace where nobody would ever find it."
Makeup Hid Suspicious Scratches
- Police noticed Jim Watson wearing makeup to hide scratches on his face when they searched his home.
- When officers washed it off, Major Bruce Jordan identified the marks as fingernail scratches.
The Case Was Built On Circumstance
- Prosecutors faced a major hurdle because there was no body, no eyewitness, and no direct proof of murder initially.
- Georgia law made getting a conviction difficult without definitive evidence linking a defendant to a homicide scene.