Boston man charged with 2022 stabbing death sentenced after trial ends in plea
BOSTON, January 17, 2025 – A Boston man who pleaded guilty this week to the 2022 fatal stabbing of another man was sentenced today to life in prison with the possibility of parole, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
DWIGHT WATSON, 58, was charged with the 2022 stabbing death of Urvin Gerald, 48, of Dorchester. Jury selection in Watson’s trial began Monday, with opening statements and testimony given before a jury on Wednesday. Watson pleaded guilty on Thursday to second-degree murder.
Judge Mary Ames today sentenced Watson to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 18 years.
At about 1:03 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2022, Boston police responded to the Mount Horeb Lodge on Harvard Street in Dorchester and found Gerald suffering from a stab wound. Gerald was transported to Boston Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators determined that there was an earlier altercation between the victim and an individual known as “Dog Bite.” That individual was later identified as Watson, who was a regular attendee at the lodge. Lodge security separated Watson and Gerald after the altercation and Watson was escorted out of the facility. About 30 minutes later, Gerald exited the rear of the lodge. In the parking area, Watson suddenly appeared and stabbed Gerald in the neck, and then fled. The stabbing was caught on surveillance video.
Investigators soon learned that Watson had fled the state. On January 27, 2023, Watson was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Ohio. Watson was returned to Boston by members of the Boston Police fugitive unit.
Prosecutors read two victim impact statements from Gerald’s family members, who attended today’s sentencing.
“The senseless act of violence that took Urvin’s life has caused an unimaginable emotional hardship. Since that day, the world no longer feels whole. The repercussions extend far beyond the immediate tragedy. Our grief is constant, and we are left to navigate a life without the man who was our anchor,” Gerald’s wife said in a statement.
"The statements made by Mr. Gerald’s family today make heartbreakingly clear how difficult life becomes for family survivors of homicide. Their words and sentiments motivate all of us in law enforcement—and hopefully all of us in society—to work ever harder at reducing violence in every form," Hayden said.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications