Clementine Myers trial to be held in Sparta
The final trial in the Myers Lane triple murder case will be held in neighboring Sparta when the mother of convicted killer Doug Myers goes before a jury on conspiracy charges.
The defendant, Clementine Myers, faces charges of murder conspiracy and criminal knowledge to the crime of murder. Her charges come in connection with the July 1999 murder of Dianne Watts, 42, who was beaten to death along with her daughter, Jessica Watts, 10, and family friend, Chelsie Smith, 13, at the Watts’ Myers Lane home. Clementine Myers is charged only in connection to the death of Dianne Watts.
Myers’ son, Doug Myers, 42, is serving three life sentences without possibility of parole after being convicted by a Cookeville jury last year. Johnny Lewis is currently serving 65 years for his role in the murders.
Prosecutors maintain Clementine Myers had knowledge the murder of Dianne Watts was going to happen and that she perhaps helped cover the crime.
The decision to hold the trial in Sparta was made by presiding Judge John Turnbull after he granted a change of venue. Turnbull found moving the trial from Warren County was needed due to pre-trial publicity.
The trials of Doug Myers and Johnny Lewis were held in Cookeville; however, the fact two different jury pools were used in those trials prompted the court to place the next trial in Sparta to avoid any chance of conflict.
The trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., Jan. 5.