KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The ex-boyfriend of missing Portage mother Heather Kelley is set to receive a new lawyer.
According to the defendant Carlos Watts Jr., his attorney had been “ineffective for the following reasons to present all the ‘evidence and witnesses’ in my case.”
Along with replacing his lawyer, Watts requested to withdraw his July 3 guilty plea for escaping from Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program back on December 12.
According to Kalamazoo County prosecutors, Watts allegedly cut his GPS ankle tether and ran away hours after questioning by police about Kelley’s disappearance.
He told prosecutors he ran away from KPEP because he “thought” he was a suspect in Kelley’s murder. Court documents revealed that Watts told police that he ran because he was scared Kelley’s brother was going to kill him.
Officers found Kelley’s burnt car near East Michigan Avenue and North Sprinkle Road the night before Watts escaped. Her blood, hair and other signs of violence were also found inside the car according to Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller.
Authorities say Watts has not been charged with Kelley’s murder, and that Kelley’s body remains missing nearly 7 months after her disappearance.
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