Elderly Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Murder His Wife

A 79-year-old Ramona man who tried to smother his wheelchair-bound wife pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempted murder.

Walter Watson entered his plea before San Diego Superior Court Judge Andrew Wagner, who set sentencing for Dec. 1. The incident occurred July 15 in the couple’s home.

Mary Watson, also 79, testified at a July 31 preliminary hearing that her husband forcibly put a plastic bag over her head. During the struggle, she also broke some fingers.

The couple’s son heard his mother screaming and removed the bag from her head, Deputy Dist. Atty. George Beall said.

Beall said Watson faces a maximum 9-year state prison term and a $10,000 fine.

However, because of his age, the prosecutor acknowledged that getting a prison sentence for Watson would be difficult.

“It’s going to be a battle getting him to prison at all. A prison sentence would probably be a death sentence,” Beall said.

Mary Watson suffers from Parkinson’s disease, according to court testimony. Her husband reportedly has been frustrated in dealing with his handicapped wife, said Herb Bowman, a prosecutor who previously worked on the case.

After the incident, Watson reportedly put a bag over his own head in the basement, where he was found unconscious, Beall said. He also apparently tried to drink carburetor fluid.

Watson posted $10,000 bail in August, and he remains free on the condition that he have no contact with his wife.