Man sentenced to life for 2021 double murder in Charles

On Feb. 21, the Charles County State’s Attorney announced that Deon Watkins, 52, was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of two women three years ago.

The Washington, D.C., man had been found guilty during a trial on Aug. 23, 2023, for killing of Kandeon Niravanh and Genesis Garrett.

Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie called the incident a “rage killing” and asked for the maximum sentence under law. He said, “the callous disregard for human life is appalling” and that Watkins’ actions were “heinous, angry, and vengeful.”

Before sentencing Watkins, Judge H. James West said that the incident “was an execution with no purpose other than to say, ‘I was crossed on a business level or I was disrespected.’ This shouldn’t be tolerated in any community.”

On Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, gunshots were reported and officers responded to a townhome in the 2400 block of Hanover Court in Waldorf at 12:45 a.m.

Upon arrival, officers found the front door of a residence was open. They then discovered Niravanh and Garrett deceased with apparent gunshot wounds to their upper bodies inside of the residence.

An investigation revealed that Niravanh was selling marijuana and that Watkins was her supplier, according to a press release from the Charles state’s attorney’s office.

Before the murder, an argument occurred between Watkins and Niravanh via text message about a debt that Niravanh owed Watkins, as well as Watkins’ belief that Niravanh was attempting to contact his drug supplier directly.

In the exchange, Watkins made threats of violence against Niravanh, the release said.

Watkins’ 2012 gray Honda Accord was observed on video surveillance leaving the scene. Tag reader information corroborated the vehicle ownership and video surveillance observed Watkins leaving the scene, leading officers to arrest him in Washington, D.C., two days later.