SUGAR NOTCH, Pa. – A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison for the brutal killing of his mother, pleading guilty to third-degree murder after years of legal proceedings.
Erik Watkins, 42, admitted to the December 2020 killing of his mother, Patricia Watkins, in the small borough of Sugar Notch, just south of Wilkes-Barre. The case involved intense legal debates, initially starting with a not-guilty plea before Tuesday’s surprising turn.
On the night of the crime, law enforcement responded to a domestic dispute call at around 2 a.m. When the state troopers arrived at the Maffett Street residence, the 60-year-old victim was found dead in the bathtub with severe injuries, including broken bones and a caved-in face, as detailed in the criminal complaint.
Watkins made a chilling confession to the police upon their arrival, vocally admitting, “She is dead, my mom is dead, I killed her.” Reports indicate that the violence erupted between Watkins and his stepbrother before culminating in the mother’s tragic death.
The investigation revealed that Watkins had recently moved back in with his mother. Earlier on the day of the incident, he had smoked marijuana and later claimed to have heard voices and experienced hallucinations driven by what he believed to be a higher power. His defense argued these altered mental states, claiming drug-induced psychosis played a significant role in the violent episode.
A crucial pretrial motion to suppress Watkins’ confession was denied, maintaining the admissibility of his statements. Initially set for trial in December 2023, Watkins’ case saw numerous delays before coming to a resolution this fall.
During his sentencing, Watkins expressed deep remorse, tearfully apologizing to his family. “I’m extremely remorseful. No words can define how terrible I feel. I loved my mother. I love my family and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he said, attributing his actions to substance abuse and mental health struggles.
The victim’s other son also addressed the court, mourning the loss of their mother and the circumstances of her death. “She lost everyone and only had us. She would do anything she could for us. She just wanted us to have a good life,” he said while fighting back tears.
Watkins will receive credit for the 1,361 days he has already spent in pretrial detention.
