URGENT UPDATE: Benjamin W. Watta, the man sentenced to death for the brutal 1980 murder of Simone Sharpe, has died in prison at the age of 80. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed his passing on December 22, 2023, following a routine count at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City.
Watta was found unresponsive in his cell around 11 a.m. and was pronounced dead shortly after by paramedics. The exact cause of death will be determined by the Del Norte County Coroner, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding his demise.
This case dates back to Christmas Eve 1980, when 70-year-old Simone Sharpe was brutally raped and murdered. She was discovered by her son in a neighbor’s home, where she had been caring for their pets while they were away. Tragically, she had been suffocated and strangled the day before, a horrific crime that remained unsolved for over two decades.
The breakthrough came in 2001 when DNA evidence linked Watta to Sharpe’s murder. At that time, he was in custody for attempting to murder an ex-girlfriend in Florida. Extradited to Orange County, he was convicted in 2008 after a jury recommended the death penalty, which was imposed in 2009.
Watta had been serving his sentence at Pelican Bay since his transfer in 2009. His death comes amid a moratorium on the death penalty in California, established by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019. The last execution in the state took place in 2006.
As details emerge, the implications of Watta’s death on the case and the legal system remain to be seen. Authorities are expected to provide further updates regarding the investigation into the cause of death.
This shocking development in a decades-old case continues to resonate with the community and highlights the enduring impact of violent crime. The legacy of Simone Sharpe’s tragic story, along with the complexities of justice, remains a poignant reminder of the past.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
