A Deadly Dispute Over WiFi: How Kevon Watkins Killed His Sister Alexus

In February 2018, Kevon Watkins, a 16-year-old boy, killed his sister Alexus Watkins, a 20-year-old woman, by strangling her in a fight over the family's WiFi password.

The Incident

According to the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office, Kevon Watkins was a student at Westside High School who liked to play video games on his Xbox. On February 2, 2018, he came home from school and changed the password to the family's WiFi. He did this because he wanted to block anyone else from logging on at his home so that it wouldn't slow down the service while he played his games.

When Kevon's 13-year-old brother learned what he had done, he told their mother, Latoya Watkins, who confronted Kevon about it. An argument ensued between Kevon and his mother. Alexus Watkins, who was also at home, feared that Kevon was going to physically attack their mother, so she stepped in to protect her. Kevon and Alexus tussled and fell to the floor.

Kevon placed his sister in a chokehold and held her there for an estimated 15 minutes. His mother and brother tried to separate them, but they couldn't. They called 911 for help instead. When officers with the Bibb County Sheriff's Office arrived at the West Mount Road home around 5:17 p.m., Kevon still had his sister in a chokehold. She was unconscious. Kevon released her after deputies ordered him to do so, and she fell to the floor.

Responding officers performed CPR until emergency medical services arrived on the scene. Alexus was rushed to the medical center, and was subsequently pronounced dead.

The Trial

Kevon Watkins was arrested and booked into the Regional Youth Detention Center on Riggins Mill Road. He was charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. He waived his right to a jury trial and opted for a judge to hear his testimony and review evidence in the case instead. The trial took place over two days in August 2019.

Prosecutors stated that Kevon did not intend to kill his sister, but his decision to place her in a chokehold for at least 15 minutes is what ultimately led to her death. They argued that he had ample time to let her go after his family pleaded with him to stop, but he chose not to. A medical examiner testified that a person is declared brain dead after at least 10 minutes without oxygen.

Kevon's defense attorney claimed that he acted in self-defense and that he did not realize how much harm he was causing his sister. He said that Kevon was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intermittent explosive disorder (IED), which made him prone to impulsive and aggressive behavior. He also said that Kevon had a difficult childhood and that he loved his sister very much.

Kevon himself testified that he regretted what he did and that he wished he could take it back. He said that he changed the WiFi password because he wanted to play his game without interruption and that he didn't expect his sister to intervene. He said that he didn't mean to hurt her and that he didn't know how long he had her in a chokehold. He sobbed and apologized in court.

The Sentence

Bibb County Superior Court Judge Verda Colvin found Kevon Watkins guilty of felony murder and aggravated assault. She sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. She said that she considered his age, his mental health issues, and his remorse, but she also had to consider the gravity of his crime and the loss of his sister's life.

Judge Colvin said that Kevon's actions were "intentional" and "callous" and that he showed "extreme indifference" to human life. She said that even under the best estimation, by the time the deputies arrived at the scene, it had been at least 11 minutes that Kevon had been choking his sister. She said that in those 10 minutes, she had to have stopped moving and that perhaps Kevon didn't notice that because he was still angry.

Judge Colvin also said that Kevon's case was a "horrible example" of what excessive and obsessive gaming can do to a person. She said that Kevon's addiction to his game and his disregard for his family's needs led to the tragedy. She urged him to use his time in prison to get help and to educate others about the dangers of gaming addiction.

References

(1) Kevon Watkins Killed Sister Alexus Watkins Over WiFi Password | Crime News.

(2) Kevon Watkins killed his sister following a dispute over the family’s .... .

(3) Ga. Teen Strangled Sister to Death Over WiFi Password - People.com.

(4) Georgia Teen Sentenced To Life For Strangling Sister Over .... .

(5) Teenager who murdered sister over wifi password is jailed for life ....

(6) Kevon Watkins Killed Sister Alexus Watkins Over WiFi Password | Crime News. .

(7) Kevon Watkins killed his sister following a dispute over the family’s .....