East Toledoan convicted in beating death of girlfriend

6/8/2005

An East Toledo man was convicted of involuntary manslaughter yesterday for the beating death of his girlfriend in an alley outside an east side bar.

Elmore Watson, 51, of 448 Raymer Blvd. was found guilty by Judge Gary Cook after a two-day trial in Lucas County Common Pleas Court. The case was tried before Judge Cook in lieu of a jury.

Watson could be sentenced to five years in prison. Judge Cook scheduled sentencing for June 29.

Debra Stout, 49, was found dead March 2, 2004, in a motel room in Northwood, where she went about five hours after she was beaten in an alley in the 900 block of Oak Street.

During the trial, Judge Cook heard the testimony of a woman who said she saw the couple outside the Switch Inn Bar, and that the defendant punched the victim about 15 times while she was against a garage door in the alley.

A friend who was with Ms. Stout later and took her to the Express Motel, 301 Bihl Ave., testified that she complained about pain in her rib area.

An autopsy showed the victim's spleen was lacerated, causing it to rupture and bleed into her abdomen. She also suffered bruises on her back, neck, and arm.