Man Accused Of Killing Wife, Friend; Faces Murder Charge

DETROIT, MI – A Detroit man is facing charges of premeditated murder in the shooting deaths of his estranged wife and her friend, according to court records. Police say that Robert Bryant Watts, 36, gunned down his wife, Theresa Janay Watts, 36, and Tarance Daivon Smith, 35, on New Years Eve.

Robert Watts is to appear in the 36th District Court on Thursday afternoon, where he will be arraigned on two counts of premeditated murder and two counts of felony firearms.

Authorities say that Robert Watts went to his wife's home in the 9200-block of McKinney Street in Detroit and demanded that she allow him to see his three children. When she refused, he pulled out a gun and shot her with the children present, police said.

Robert Watts then made the children go into a bathroom, police said. He then shot Smith as he sat at a kitchen table. The children then left the home and were later found at a relative's home. Police went to Theresa Watts' home on Monday, Jan. 1, and found her and Smith. Both were dead.

Police arrested Robert Watts on Tuesday.

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