BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A Bethlehem man convicted in the robbery and shooting death of a woman in 2022 has been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta announced Tuesday.
According to a release from Baratta’s office, Bethlehem police charged Marquis Michael Watkins with criminal homicide and lesser offenses in connection with the shooting death of Jani Bostic on Dec. 10. 2022, in the 1200 block of Butztown Road.
Bostic died of gunshot wounds four days later at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg.
Following the shooting, Watkins denied any involvement.
Investigation by Bethlehem police uncovered evidence linking Watkins directly to the shooting, including the recovery of the murder weapon of the Butztown Road townhome he occupied, Baratta said.
Police investigation disclosed Watkins arranged a drug deal to purchase marijuana at the Butztown Road location, authorities said.
Bostic and another man were at that Butztown Road location in a vehicle, police said.
Watkins left his nearby townhome and went to the vehicle occupied by Bostic and the other man.
Once at the vehicle, Watkins took marijuana and then fatally shot Bostic as she sat in the driver's seat of the vehicle, according to prosecutors. After Watkins shot Bostic, the man with Bostic returned shots in the direction of Watkins.
Following a jury trial before Judge Anthony S. Beltrami, Watkins, 24, was convicted of second-degree murder, robbery and firearms offenses.
At sentencing Tuesday, Beltrami imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, Baratta said.
The investigation was led by Bethlehem police Sgt. Daniel J. Kennedy. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Robert Eyer.