Suspect in grandmother’s killing on Fort Worth highway arrested on suspicion of murder
Julia Gregor liked to visit antique shops, go fishing and, of course, spend time with her three grandchildren.
She had worked for about 15 years at XPO Logistics as a supervisor dealing with failed electronics. Gregor, 70, usually worked from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m., but left early last Wednesday and headed to her Benbrook home.
About 11:45 a.m. she was driving along the southbound lanes of West Loop 820 in Fort Worth, near Camp Bowie West Boulevard, when she was shot in the head, police said.
The suspect in Gregor’s killing was arrested Tuesday.
Jeffery Watson, 34, was booked into jail on suspicion of murder, police said.
Gregor was married to her husband, Ted, for 53 years and they had four children.
“I’m just — I’m glad he’s caught. I wouldn’t want another family to go through this,” Ted Gregor told the Star-Telegram on Tuesday.
Police did not immediately release information about the slaying’s motive.
After posting information about the crime on social media on Friday, homicide detectives received an anonymous tip that led them to Watson, police said. In an interview with detectives, Watson admitted to his involvement in the shooting, police said.
After Gregor was shot, her Toyota Camry crashed into a guardrail in the median. She died about 4 1/2 hours later at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office said.
A chaplain called to tell him of his wife’s condition, and Ted arrived to find Julia on life support.
“I got to hold her hand,” he said.
Then she was gone.
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 5:27 PM.
