Monroe County man gets 20 years for armed criminal action; murder sentence delayed
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Monroe County man will spend at least two decades in prison for the murder of his fiancee.
A jury convicted James Addie on Thursday of first-degree murder and armed criminal action after a short deliberation
Addie was charged with the 2018 death of his fiancée, Molly Watson, in Monroe County. Jurors heard closing arguments Thursday morning and reached their verdict, convicting Addie on both counts, after a couple of hours of deliberation.
The jury sentenced Addie to 20 years in prison on the armed criminal action count. He will be back in court June 29 for sentencing for first-degree murder. The trial took place in Cole County Circuit Court, where the proceeding was moved on a change of venue.
Addie, of Santa Fe, Missouri, was charged in connection with Watson's shooting death on a gravel road in far western Monroe County.
Watch replay of the judge reading the verdict in the window below.
Watch replay of closings arguments in the player below.
Prosecutors said that Watson died from a gunshot wound to the head. Tire tracks were found near the body that matched Addie’s vehicle. Jurors were shown graphic images of the crime scene.
Addie was scheduled to marry Watson, whom he had been involved with for seven years, in April 2018. However, Addie was still married to his wife of 23 years, Melanie Addie.
Addie’s ex-wife and daughter, Emma, took the stand on Tuesday. They both said they had no idea he was having an affair.
Prosecutors on Wednesday presented forensic evidence to the jury. Experts testified about blood splatters found on a shirt near Watson’s body, the cause of her death and the type of ammunition that was used to fire a point-blank shot to the back of Watson’s head.
Emma said that she made the T-shirt that investigators found with blood on it at the crime scene. It was covered in Watson’s DNA. Her timeline of events puts Addie outside of their home during the time of the murder.
A firearms expert said that the ammo found in Addie’s home matches the brand found in an empty box at the scene.
Addie will have a resenting for the count of first degree murder on June 29. In the meantime, he will be held in the Cole County Jail.
