NEWS CLIPPING!

REDDING — A retired Apple Blossom School principal remained in critical condition Monday at Mercy Medical Center in Redding, after sustaining multiple stab wounds earlier this month.
Robert Watson, 68, and his wife, Candace Watson, 66, on Friday, June 8 were allegedly attacked at their Redding home by her nephew Cody William Nash, 30, of Oregon, who was staying with the couple at the time of the incident, according to the Redding Police Department.

Oficers responded to a 911 call just past 5:30 a.m., which led them to the Watson’s residence where they found Lynn “Robert” Watson in front of his neighbor’s house, suffering from multiple lacerations to his upper body.

Candace Watson was found dead inside her garage.

Robert Watson was unable to speak with officers and was immediately transported to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition, according to Redding Police Sgt. Al Mellon.

Officers also located Nash at the house. He was transported to Shasta Regional Medical Center — and later to jail — for treatment of lacerations to both hands, according to police.

During an interview with Redding Police Department investigators, Nash confessed to the murder of Candace Watson and the attempted murder of Robert Watson, according to police.

Investigators are looking at “a couple of potential motives,” said Mellon, who refrained from sharing what those motives might be, until he is certain himself. Mellon did say that Nash called his aunt a couple of days before he came to town and that she agreed to pick him up and let him stay. This was not the first time Nash had stayed at his aunt’s house.

“We are looking at checking on (Watson) in the next day or so. At this point he hasn’t been asked if he has any recollection of what happened,” Mellon said Monday. “Based on the extent of his injuries I would guess he will be in intensive care for weeks, if not a month,” he said.

“It’s an incredibly tragic situation,” said Twin Hills Union School District Superintendent Les Crawford, who used to work with Watson.

Watson left Apple Blossom School in 1995 after working there as a teacher and principal for over 20 years. He eventually moved to Redding and in 1997 took a job as the superintendent of Grant Elementary School District.

He retired in 2005.

“He was a terrific teacher and principal and he was a great guy to work with,” Crawford said. “When I first came to Sonoma County my son was in his class and what I admired about Bob was that at the very get-go, he cared about the kids and knew the kids and was their advocate,” Crawford said, adding, “I have been part of the Twin Hills community for a long time and Bob is respected and loved by everyone I know.”

Nash, who does not have a history of violence, according to Mellon, is being held at the Shasta County Jail on charges of murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon (a knife).