Woman found dead at school is identified

Police are putting together the last days of the life of a Campbellsville woman who committed suicide last week. And investigators in the case are asking for the public’s help.

Jessica Watson

Anyone who saw Jessica Watson, 24, last week is asked to call Campbellsville Police Department and report her whereabouts. Watson was found dead at Campbellsville High School on Saturday afternoon.

According to a Campbellsville Police news release, officers responded to a report of an unconscious person who wasn’t breathing on Saturday at 2:23 p.m. at the CHS football field.

Upon arrival, the officers found Watson deceased near the bleachers. Taylor County Coroner Terry Dabney pronounced Watson dead at the scene.

On Tuesday, he said Watson’s body was found under the CHS football bleachers. Her cause of death, according to Dabney, is asphyxia caused by hanging.

Dabney said he has ruled Watson’s death a suicide and doesn’t suspect any foul play. He said Watson’s body was in fine condition when she was found.

Dabney said he doesn’t know yet how long Watson was at CHS, though he believes she could have been there for a couple of days.

“We’re still looking into it,” he said.

Since CHS wasn’t in session last Friday, he said, that is likely why no one found Watson’s body until Saturday.

Dabney said an autopsy of Watson’s body was not performed, though some toxicology tests were.

Results aren’t available yet, he said, and could take several weeks to complete.

Campbellsville Police Captain Patricia Thompson said an off-duty police officer was at CHS on Saturday taking his child to a practice when he saw a woman near the bleachers.

When the woman didn’t move, Thompson said, the officer went to check on her. When he realized a gate to get into the area was locked, she said, the officer realized she shouldn’t be there. He called police and asked for help.

Thompson said she doesn’t know how long Watson was there before the officer found her body. But the manner of her death, Thompson said, is clear.

“We do believe her death was a result of self inflicted, it was a suicide.”

She said Watson has no connection to Campbellsville High School, though she had been staying with friends and relatives who lived in the area.

Thompson said she doesn’t believe any athletic practices were happening when Watson was found, though some may have been just about to start.

Campbellsville Police officers Andy Warren, Scotty Perian and Bart Gilpin are conducting the investigation into Watson’s death.

Thompson said the officers are attempting to create a timeline of the last days of Watson’s life, and the public can help with that.

Those who saw Watson, whether it was at a story or restaurant or other place, are asked to call police.

“So we can conclude our investigation,” Thompson said.

Taylor County Sheriff’s Deputy Dickie Benningfield and personnel from Campbellsville Fire & Rescue and Campbellsville/Taylor County EMS assisted at the scene on Saturday. Campbellsville Schools Superintendent Mike Deaton declined to make a statement about Watson’s death, as did CHS Principal Kirby Smith.

However, Thompson said Campbellsville School officials were instrumental in helping officers after Watson was found. Anyone who saw Watson is asked to call Campbellsville Police at 465-4122.

According to Taylor County High School officials, records state that Watson last attended school there in August 2006, when she transferred to CHS. CHS officials, however, have no record of her graduating from there.

Watson posted on her Facebook page that she graduated from TCHS in 2007, though officials have no record of that.

Watson was married to Mickey Watson of Campbellsville. He survives.

Other survivors include her mother, Carol Lee of Lexington; her father, Craig Rosson of Illinois; her grandmother, Vivian Lee of Illinois; her mother-in-law, Susan Watson of Campbellsville; and two sisters, Noelle Bone of Campbellsville and Taylor Milby of Hodgenville. Watson’s funeral was Tuesday at Lyon-DeWitt Funeral Home in Campbellsville. Bro. Landon Hadley officiated.

Burial was in Palestine Baptist Church Cemetery.

Watson’s family has requested that expressions of sympathy be donations to funeral expenses. Donations can be left at the funeral home.

An obituary appears on Page A3 of the Thursday, Jan. 24, issue.