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Sicklerville resident Matthew Sidney Watley, 46, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder after he was allegedly intoxicated and took police on a slow speed pursuit on Sunday morning in Frederick County, which led to the discovery of a woman's dead body in his cab.
Officials say that shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Costco Distribution Center on Intercostal Drive in Monrovia, there were calls of an allegedly drunk driver who smashed out the window of his own truck.
Upon arrival at Costco, deputies from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office found Watley in the front seat of his truck with it running in the parking lot; however, he was argumentative and refused to speak with them.
It was determined that he was under the influence, and as a precaution, spike strips were placed in the front and back of the tractor-trailer, though Watley was undeterred, and drove through them in the secure area of the Costco lot, prompting a police pursuit.
He eventually stopped in the exit lane of the distribution center, and continued to refuse commands to get out of the truck.
According to a spokesperson from the sheriff's office, Watley remained confrontational, forcing deputies to use pepper spray through his open window, though he stayed steadfast and steady behind the wheel, at which point they broke a different window, got into the cab, and were able to detain him after deploying a Taser-like device.
Then they found the body.
Officials say that while in the cab of the truck, deputies found a woman's dead body on the floorboard of the tractor-trailer.
Watley was taken to Frederick Health Hospital, where he was still being evaluated and treated on Monday morning. Next of kin notifications are still being made and the woman's ID has not been released by the sheriff's office.
More information is expected to be released as the investigation continues. Check Daily Voice for updates.
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