In August 2000, Linda Watson was murdered and her mother had been in a custody battle with her ex-husband around the time of her disappearance. 

In October 2003, Linda’s skeletal remains were discovered in the desert. The case will be featured on “Dateline: Secrets Uncovered” on March 8, 2023.

After Linda’s disappearance, the case went unsolved, and tragically, her mother, Marilyn Cox and friend Renee Farnsworth were shot and killed. 

Subsequently, Linda’s remains were finally identified, and police were able to make an arrest years later. The case took a dark turn as it was revealed that one person was responsible for all three homicides.

The reason behind Linda’s death 

Linda Watson’s story is one of heartbreak and tragedy. Her mother, Marilyn Cox, last seen her on August 20, 2000, after attending church and having lunch together. 

The following day, on August 21, a repairman found evidence of a struggle inside Linda’s home, including a broken cup and blood stains.

 Linda and her ex-husband, David Watson, were embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their daughter, Jordynn.

 Linda had reportedly planned to get a restraining order against David, who was a fire department captain at the time.

Marilyn also became involved in a legal dispute over visitation rights with David and his then-second wife, Rosemary.

Tragically, Marilyn and her friend Renee Farnsworth were shot and killed just after Marilyn’s first unsupervised visit with Jordynn on May 7, 2003.

They had just dropped off the young girl when the shooting occurred. It’s worth noting that

Marilyn had appointed her lawyer to submit a restraining order against David on the same day but skipped the appointment.

For years, Marilyn tried to find her daughter and made numerous television appearances, but her efforts were in vain. 

She also fought for the visiting rights of her granddaughters in a two-year legal battle. 

In October 2003, Linda’s skeletal remains were discovered in the desert west of Tucson, along with the bodies of illegal immigrants.

The body had completely deteriorated, and it was only through DNA evidence that authorities were able to identify the remains as Linda’s in 2011.

 The case took a perverse turn as it developed into a triple homicide connected to David Watson, who was eventually arrested and convicted for the murders of Linda, Marilyn, and Renee.

Linda’s story is a tragic one, highlighting the dangers and consequences of domestic disputes and custody battles.

 It’s a sobering reminder of the need for proper legal protections and support systems for victims of domestic violence and their families.

Who Killed Linda? Her husband Watson? 

After three people were found dead, authorities conducted an extensive investigation and ultimately suspected Linda’s father, David Watson, of their murders.

 Investigators believed that David had killed them due to a custody dispute over Jordynn. On August 25, 2015, the Sheriff’s department arrested David Watson in connection with the triple homicide after completing their investigation.

 David was considered the primary suspect in the case involving Linda Watson, Marilyn Cox, and Renee Farnsworth.

On April 17, 2017, David Watson was found guilty and sentenced to 66 years in prison for his involvement in the triple homicide. He was given a 16-year sentence and two life sentences of 25 years each.