A man has been convicted in a brutal murder case involving a California artist’s girlfriend. The jury found 30-year-old Victor “Frit” Freeson III guilty of murdering Zoe Reidy Watts, a potter and poet, and torturing her as she tried to escape after a date.
The verdict came after a two-week trial in Alameda County. The incident occurred on March 1, 2024, when the couple returned to Freeson’s apartment in Oakland following a night out at an Irish pub in San Francisco, where they had shared videos on social media.
Investigators later established a timeline using these videos, which showed that Watts had no visible injuries when they left the restaurant. They arrived back at Freeson’s apartment around 10:45 p.m.
Surveillance footage revealed that Watts struggled to maintain her balance and fell onto the street shortly before midnight. Prosecutors noted that Freeson attacked her soon after their return, resulting in severe injuries.
During the assault, Watts attempted to flee, but video captured her stumbling out of the apartment, injured and collapsing outside the door. Freeson was seen dragging her back inside and closing the door behind him.
Freeson took the stand in his defense, with his lawyer admitting to acts of domestic violence but insisting he was innocent of murder or torture.
After the attack, Freeson sought help from a neighbor, guiding him to Watts’ body, which suggested he may not have realized she was dead. Prosecutors claimed Freeson attempted to clean up the scene, which further indicated his guilt.
Jurors heard about Freeson’s violent past, including an assault on a former girlfriend, while Watts had sought a protective order against him prior to her death. The couple met in 2023 when Watts was studying at San Francisco State University and was gaining recognition as an artist.
Just weeks prior to the tragedy, she reported domestic abuse to authorities, noting visible injuries, including bruises. Freeson’s sentencing is expected to occur in mid-September.
