PLYMOUTH — A cadaver dog signaled that human remains had been inside and outside the home of a Limerick Township woman and in two vehicles linked to the man suspected of killing her, offering “extremely important” evidence that helped convict the killer, according to authorities.
This week, K-9 Patton and Philadelphia police officers James Zimmerman and Brian Quirple, Patton’s handler, received commendations from Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele for their assistance that led to the conviction of Blair Anthony Watts for the January 2023 murder of Jennifer Brown, his partner in a restaurant venture, inside her Limerick home.
“At trial, both Officer Zimmerman and Officer Quirple provided key testimony about K-9 Patton’s work. Their testimony, as well as the results of where Patton alerted to human remains, were extremely important to the trial and to the jury finding Watts guilty of the first-degree murder,” Steele addressed a crowd gathered at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus in Plymouth Township where he placed a medal around Patton’s neck and presented commendations to Zimmerman and Quirple.
Steele explained that Zimmerman, who trained both Quirple and Patton, testified about Patton’s training, how he alerts and other aspects regarding the science of cadaver dogs. Quirple testified about searches related to the case.
Specifically, during Watts’ December 2023 trial, Quirple testified Patton searched inside and outside Brown’s home in the 1400 block of Stratford Court on Jan. 6, 2023, two days after she was reported missing.
During the search inside the home, Patton “indicated” in the kitchen area of the home, Quirple testified.
“When we got to the kitchen he started giving me indication. He started barking…and sticking his nose on the base of the cabinets,” Quirple testified during the second day of Watts’ trial.
Patton also searched the exterior of the Stratford Court residence and indicated that human remains or human biological material had been present in the area of a covered structure that housed trash receptacles, according to testimony.
On Jan. 8, Patton searched the inside of a red Jeep Cherokee vehicle linked to Watts.
“He gave indications to the driver side rear door…down on the floorboard right behind the driver seat,” Quirple told the jury.
Detectives also seized a floor mat from a second vehicle known to be used by Watts, a grey 2018 Jeep Renegade. During a Feb. 2 search, Patton indicated the presence of human remains or human biological material on a floor mat taken from the rear seat area of the vehicle.
At trial, First Assistant District Attorney Edward F. McCann Jr. and co-prosecutor Kelly S. Lloyd relied on the cadaver dog’s findings as evidence to link Watts to Brown’s slaying.
“Due to the work of Officer Quirple and K-9 Patton, detectives knew almost immediately that Ms. Brown was dead,” Steele said.
Brown’s body was discovered by police shortly after 11 a.m. Jan. 18, 2023, in a “freshly dug hole” at the rear of a warehouse in the 200 block of North 5th Avenue in Royersford after they were alerted to the site by employees of the warehouse.
An autopsy determined Brown, a devoted 43-year-old single mother, suffered three broken ribs. The cause of death was attributed to “homicide by unspecified means,” with compression and asphyxia, a mechanism that would account for the fractured ribs.
Prosecutors argued at trial that Watts was a “broke narcissist” and a failed businessman who killed Brown, who invested $22,600 in a proposed restaurant business with him when he feared she was going to expose his lies about his business dealings, specifically that he used her investment monies for his personal expenses.
On Dec. 13, 2023, a jury convicted Watts, 33, of the 600 block of Hunsberger Drive, Limerick, of first-degree murder, which is an intentional killing, in connection with the Jan. 3, 2023, slaying of Brown. Judge William R. Carpenter sentenced Watts to a mandatory life prison term.
The commendations presented to Patton and his handlers were among honors handed to four civilians and more than three dozen law enforcement officers on May 21 during Steele’s annual law enforcement commendation ceremony. Steele said commendations are awarded to those who make extraordinary efforts and perform exemplary work in protecting and serving the residents of Montgomery County.
“Montgomery County wouldn’t be the safe and wonderful place it is without this teamwork,” Steele said.
