Victim’s sister wants to keep family’s memory alive

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

A cross still stands facing the Highway 55 bypass as a sign of remembrance for the three murders that took place on Myers Lane six years ago. However, colorful ribbons were recently torn down.

Six years after the triple slaying on Myers Lane, the sister of one of the slain was overcome with emotion as she entered the scene of the horror recently while commemorating the sixth anniversary of the murders.

“I walked out crying, even after all this time,” said Vicki Fleming, sister of murder victim Dianne Watts, 42, and aunt to Jessica Watts, 10, both brutally beaten to death along with house guest Chelsie Smith, 13, by the elder Watts’ live-in boyfriend, Doug Myers. “It’s been since 1999 but the feelings are still just as strong today, especially when I walked into Dianne’s old bedroom.”

Fleming said her first return to the house since the slayings on July 31, 1999 came as a surprise as she was updating the memorial to the three victims on the highway fence behind the house which is now being rented. Fleming said a relative of the resident invited her for a walk through, leading to the stir of emotions.

“There’s been times I’ve almost stopped over the years and thought about asking to go in,” Fleming said. “I pass by the house almost every day.”

The return to the scene of the crime came as Fleming was placing blue, purple and green ribbons on the fence line on the state right of way behind the restored house which was partially burned after the murders. The colors each stand for one of the victims and were seen all around the county as lawmen investigated the crime for almost a year before arresting Doug Myers, who is now serving a life sentence. His accomplice, Johnny Lewis is serving 65 years while Myers’ mother, Clementine Myers is still waiting on an appeal of her 20-month sentence for a smaller role in the crime.

Fleming said she thinks it is important the people of Warren County not forget the tragedy. Therefore, she said she tries to keep the memorial, placed around a permanent cross at the scene, updated each year. However, Fleming said her memorial this year was torn down the same day she placed it up as the person who took the memorial down left only the cross standing. Regardless of the motivations for the removal of the ribbons, Fleming said she intends to continue posting the ribbons.

“I don’t want the people of Warren County to ever forget,” Fleming said. “This wasn’t just my sister, but it was also two little children who were murdered.”