Crime & Safety

Summer Trial Date Set for Pair Charged in Fatal Stabbing of Elderly Woman

Two parole absconders charged in the slaying of a 80-year-old woman in her Trafford Road home were arraigned in Oakland County Circuit Court today.

PONTIAC — Tonia Watson, 40, and Alan Wood, 49, were arraigned in Oakland County Circuit Court Tuesday morning in the stabbing death of 80-year-old Nancy Dailey. Circuit Judge Colleen O’Brien set a trial date of July 23.

with premeditated first-degree murder and felony murder while with felony murder, both of which carry a mandatory life imprisonment penalty. In addition, Watson and Wood are charged with larceny in a building and unauthorized use of a financial transaction device.

The Detroit Free Press reports defense attorney Elias Escobedo, who represents Wood, is expected to file a motion within weeks, asking that the two defendants have separate juries, thus preventing jurors from deciding Wood’s fate based on a videotaped confession of Watson.

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A relative found Dailey on the evening of Nov. 20 lying on the floor of her Trafford Road home in a pool of blood. Two days later, police  on felony parole absconder warrants.

After her arrest, of what happened in Dailey's home. She said Wood mentioned he wanted to rob Dailey.

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According to Watson's confession, after gaining entry into the elderly woman’s home, Wood demanded Dailey's ATM personal identification number. Watson told detectives when Dailey refused to give Wood her pin number, he began assaulting her, ultimately using his scarf to tie Dailey’s arms before pulling out a knife.


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