Suspect in murder of missing Montco mother maintains innocence at hearing
LIMERICK TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) – A Montgomery County man accused of murdering his business partner went before a judge on Thursday. Blair Watts, of Royersford, had his preliminary hearing in Limerick Township.
Watts wore a red prison jumpsuit and had his hands and feet shackled as he walked into the judge's office.
Watts was tight-lipped walking into district court Thursday. Leaving the building Thursday evening, Watts maintains he's not the killer.
The 33-year-old is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his business colleague, Jennifer Brown, the Limerick Township mother, who went missing in January.
Brown's neighbor, Ellen Friend, and dozens of others came to the hearing, wearing purple in Brown's honor.
"We're wearing Justice for Jennifer ribbons and it's important because purple was her favorite color," Friend said. "It's an emotional attachment for all of us because we really want justice served for this unfortunate harmful crime."
A year before the crime, Watts actually spoke with CBS News Philadelphia about his restaurant Birdie's Kitchen.
But Thursday, he kept silent.
Investigators say Watts was Brown's business partner and friend. The two planned on re-opening Birdie's Kitchen in Phoenixville at the end of January.
Watts' attorneys allege the prosecution lacks evidence to connect their client to the crime.
"t's all circumstantial," defense attorney Charles Mandracchia said.
Prosecutors allege Watts reported her missing on January 4, one day after she didn't pick her son up from the school bus.
Her body was later found in a wooded area. Investigators say an overwhelming amount of evidence points to Watts, including $17,000 being transferred from Brown's account to Watts' two days before she was reported missing.
Cell phone data shows Watts in the area of Brown's home after her death.
Officials say a K-9 cadaver dog signaled a dead body near the kitchen and a trash area outside Brown's property.
Authorities are still working to figure out how Brown died. There was no indication of a gunshot or knife wound.
As for the defense, they argue much of the case is speculative. But the judge ruled the case will proceed to trial.
