Convicted Rapist Gets 33 Years In Laurel Woman's Slaying

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (WJZ) -- A convicted rapist pled guilty Monday to murder in connection to the death of a Laurel woman 33 years ago, Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said.

John Ernest Walsh, 71, entered guilty pleas for second-degree murder and false imprisonment counts in the slaying of Stefanie Sue Watson, who was 27 when she went missing in 1982, according to the State's Attorney.

Walsh was sentenced to 33 years in prison, which will run back-to-back with the time he's currently serving for an unrelated rape conviction. Authorities suspect Walsh murdered Watson while he was previously out on parole.

"We want people to know that no matter how old a case may be, we never stop fighting for justice for our victims," Alsobrooks said. "Even though Mr. Walsh is currently in prison on an unrelated conviction, it is important that we prosecute him in this case to help Stephanie's family continue to heal."

Watson left her Laurel apartment to go to work at a local hospital on July 22, 1982, but never arrived. She was reported missing by her cousin the next day. Days later, her car was found, covered in blood.

That September, a witness reported seeing a man toss a plastic bag into some woods. When he went to take a closer look, he uncovered a skull later identified as Watson's. The rest of her body was never found.

Walsh was sentenced to 72 years in prison following his conviction for two counts of rape in 1969. He was released on parole in 1980 and remained free until 1989 when a failed drug test revealed he had violated his probation.

Investigators caught a break in the decades-long cold case in 2013 when Prince George's County Police sent blood samples taken from Watson's car to the crime lab and they later were matched to Walsh.