69-year-old woman found dead in Baltimore County home, homicide investigation underway

Baltimore County police are searching for the person who killed 69-year-old Patricia Watson-Geiger inside of her Lutherville home Monday.

Police said her body was discovered around 8:30 p.m. Sunday inside her home on Oakcroft Drive near Hampton Elementary School. She had trauma to her upper body, according to authorities.

Watson-Geiger's ex-husband told the Baltimore Banner that he returned home from work, found her body and called 911. He said they were married for 30 years but remained friends and continued to share a home after their divorce.

On social media, dozens of Towson neighbors shared memories and condolences. Towson High School alumni also posted messages of prayer. Watson-Geiger celebrated her 50th high school reunion last year.

"She was a bartender in the area and got along with everybody," her ex-husband told the Banner.

He said finding her body "was like walking into your house and finding your best friend dead."

He told the Banner that when he entered the home, the lights were off and belongings from her purse were scattered across the kitchen. Clothes and other items were also out of place, and several drawers were left open. 

He said Watson-Geiger had three children.

Neighbors were "completely shocked"

Neighbors told WJZ the situation is "unbelievably bizarre" and that they will miss one of the nicest neighbors on their block.

"I was completely shocked. It doesn't happen here," a neighbor, who preferred to remain anonymous, tells WJZ. "We have security systems around here between the dogs and ring and everything else, so there is a question as to how this could have happened."

While many call this tragic, neighbors say they still feel safe in this area because police told them it is an isolated incident.

"From all that's been put together so far, and the things that I've heard, it doesn't sound like a random act. It sounds like somebody who knew them," said Rod Stroup. "It's just a tragedy that somebody would take it upon themselves to do that."

Other neighbors say they would walk by Watson-Geiger as they took their children to school.

"Just shock. She's a really nice lady, and we used to go around the corner and see her outside our house all the time," said Jon, who preferred to go by only his first name.

On Tuesday, one neighbor told WJZ that people were walking through testing car doors and doorknobs to see if they were unlocked.

"Seems like crime is kind of ramping up a little bit in the county. And then this, I mean, I guess it was an isolated incident. But still, it's kind of scary," Jon added.

Now, the neighborhood grapples with what happened and is trying to move forward.

"It shouldn't have happened. I guess it just means that it happens everywhere, and you just have to be so, so careful," an anonymous neighbor tells WJZ.

Homicide detectives are asking anyone with information regarding Watson-Geiger's death to contact them at 410-887-4636 or anonymously by contacting Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-756-2587. Metro Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.