Police say Herbert Watts Jr. shot a victim outside a Kissimmee drug store in January.
Prior stories:
Sheriff Lopez: Orange County woman found Sunday in Poinciana made children drink bleach to kill them
Murder charges for woman found at Poinciana church who made daughters drink bleach
Death penalty sought for Kissimmee woman in killing of one child and attempt on husband, 2nd child
A 39-year-old woman who forced her two children to drink bleach—killing one—has pleaded guilty to premeditated murder in exchange for a life sentence without parole.
Joanne Zephir entered guilty pleas Wednesday to first-degree murder with a weapon and two counts of attempted first-degree murder with a weapon. The state had initially filed to seek the death penalty.
Sydney McCloud, director of communications for the State Attorney’s Office in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, stated, “State Attorney [Monique] Worrell believes this sentence is an appropriate and just outcome for the case, ensuring justice is served while also providing closure to the victims, their loved ones, and the community.”
On May 8, 2022, just after midnight, Osceola County Sheriff’s deputies found Zephir in her vehicle in a Poinciana church parking lot with her unconscious 3-year-old daughter and her 8-year-old daughter nearby. Reports said Zephir had called a family member, claiming she had recently cut her estranged husband and intended to turn herself in. However, she later called again, stating she planned to take her own life.
According to investigators, Zephir, who speaks only Creole, admitted to giving her children bleach but claimed she was not in control of her actions, alleging her husband and his family practiced voodoo.
Zephir was also charged in Orange County with aggravated battery for stabbing her husband of four years, Jameson Edouard, reportedly in a dispute over infidelity. That charge was resolved as part of the Osceola County plea agreement, according to McCloud.
Kissimmee man charged in January shooting
A 34-year-old Kissimmee man with an extensive history of drug arrests was arrested Wednesday in connection with the shooting of a victim found critically injured outside a drug store in early January.
The victim, who was riding an electric bicycle, was shot multiple times near Person Street on January 8 before making his way to the CVS on Vine Street, where emergency responders found him in critical condition. Surveillance footage from nearby intersections showed the victim struggling to ride his bike before collapsing at the store.
Investigators canvassed the area, finding a trail of blood leading to a grassy field near 713 Person Street. A witness identified Herbert Watts Jr. as the shooter. The witness told detectives that Watts and the victim had argued before Watts fired four shots at close range.
A background check revealed Watts had a previous felony conviction for drug-related offenses, making his possession of a firearm illegal. Based on the evidence, police charged Watts with attempted first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
