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Son accused of killing retired Navy chief

WOODBINE, Ga. — Camden County authorities have arrested a 22-year-old man in the shooting deaths of his parents.

The sheriff’s office said Tye Christopher Watkins called 911 about 6:30 a.m. Monday and told the dispatcher, “I just killed my parents.”

Sheriff’s Lt. William Terrell said deputies responded to the home in Mush Bluff, an affluent waterfront neighborhood not far from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Terrell said deputies found 47-year-old Thomas Jefferson “TJ” Watkins and 44-year-old Cindy Trott Watkins dead of multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators are trying to determine what prompted the shootings, Terrell said, adding that the couple had reported their son missing a few hours before the killings.

Watkins waited outside for deputies to arrive and was arrested without incident, Terrell said.

Neighbors said the elder Watkins was a retired Navy chief, who most recently worked at Kings Bay as a civilian. The couple’s daughter lives across the street.

Deputies said no one else was home at the time of the shootings.

Watkins was in custody and scheduled for an arraignment Tuesday.