McCalla Man Gets Life Sentence For 2019 Murder Of Willoe Watkins

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A McCalla man received a life sentence with the possibility of parole on Wednesday after being found guilty of the murder of 20-year-old Willoe Watkins in the summer of 2019.

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Tyler Battles was found guilty of murder in September after Watkins' body was discovered in Tuscaloosa County at the bottom of a 30-foot well. She was first reported missing on June 15, 2019 and her body was covered in cement when it was found. Battles is the second suspect found guilty and sentenced in the case and one of four suspects.

She had reportedly been strangled and beaten before an attempt was made to hide her body in the well.

AL.com's Carol Robinson previously reported that Devon Trent Hall pleaded guilty to murder in July in connection with the case, which saw him sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Battles’ wife, who is a suspect, and a fourth suspect have not yet gone to trial.

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