Allisha Watts murder: Bond remains at $1 million for boyfriend awaiting trial in jail
James Dunmore, 51, who is charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Allisha Watts, will remain in a Montgomery County jail under a $1 million secured bond.
Dunmore appeared in court on Monday as his defense attorneys pushed for a lower or unsecured bond so he can await his trial outside of jail.
The State Medical Examiner released Watts' autopsy last week, listing her cause and manner of death as undetermind. The finding prompted Dunmore's attorney, Laura Baker to file the motion that "in light of new evidence the defendant should be released immediately by the court."
In court on Monday, Baker said, "The state's own expert can’t even check a homicide box ... Dunmore shouldn’t have to sit in custody while the state tries to cobble together a homicide case.”
Despite Baker's arguments, Judge Taylor Brown kept Dunmore's bond at $1 million secured.
Assistant District Attorney Arthur Donadio said Dunmore, who has a history of convictions for domestic violence, is alleged to have left Watts' body in a soggy pond bottom for months.
"What I can tell you, judge, is that Dunmore tried to make a body disappear -- he is a man with a history of violence," Donadio said.
Watts, 39, was reported missing in July. Her body was found more than a month later, on Aug. 24, about 20 minutes away from her home in Foxfire. Her remains were found in the woods behind a cemetery along a back road leading to her house.
Donadio stated outright in court on Monday that he saw Watts' autopsy report on WRAL.com before he was provided a copy. He told the court it's unfortunate that the media got a copy of Watts' autopsy and said he needs more time to question the State Medical Examiner's report.
The report states Watts' cause of death was "undetermined" because her body was so badly decomposed by the time it was found in the woods.
Dunmore's defense argued that, since there was no clear cause of death, prosecutors cannot meet their burden of proof against Dunmore.
Dunmore's next court date was scheduled for April 15.
Around 20 of Watts' friends and family were present in court, holding signs "I am Allisha Watts" in a show of force on their quest for justice.
"I would like to say today is a victory," said Bridget Cotton, a friend of Watts. "We've still got a long road ahead but today was a victory ... we've got a long way to go, it's going to be a battle."
"This is one victory ... we have many more to come," agreed Dot Brewer, who was Watts' mentor. "We are supporting and standing here for her."
WRAL News has followed Watts' disappearance since July 2023.
Watts lived in Moore County but friends said she traveled to Charlotte on July 14 to visit her boyfriend, Dunmore.
Arrest warrants from Montgomery County indicate Watts was killed on July 16, which is the last day she was seen alive. Watts and Dunmore had tickets to a comedy show in Charlotte at Bojangles Coliseum that night but did not attend, friends told WRAL News.
WRAL News uncovered that Dunmore has a violent past -- with past convictions for kidnapping in 2003. Virginia records show Dunmore has convictions for abduction, stalking and assault and battery. The abduction charge from 2003 carried a maximum prison sentence of five years.
Find WRAL's full coverage of the case and a timeline here.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, you can call The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE). For county-by-county help, the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence has a list of resources at nccadv.org.
Here are some additional resources:
- The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) provides resources, safety plans and financial education.
- Wake County residents can call the InterAct crisis line at 919-828-7740 or go to interactofwake.org.
