A murder with a chilling connection to serial killer Whitey Bulger is solved

An arrest has been made in connection with the death of a South Boston man who was found shot dead on the side of a New Hampshire highway 37 years ago.

Police arrested the man, Michael Lewis, 61, and charged him with the fatal shooting of Brian Watson in 1984.

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Watson was 23 years old when he was fatally shot in July 1984. Lewis was 24, according to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

Watson was reported missing on July 28, 1984. According to prosecutors, he was last seen alive on July 16 or 17.

Officials said Lewis was driving with another man in South Boston on July 16 or 17. They sought out a drug dealer in the area hoping to get him to stop selling in South Boston, prosecutors said.

“The second man was angry with the dealer because the dealer had told James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, the South Boston crime boss, and Kevin Weeks, one of Bulger’s associates, that he, the second man, was dealing in angel dust in South Boston ‘ according to Hayden’s office.

“As a result, Bulger immediately charged the second man $5,000, followed by $1,000 a week.”

While Lewis and the second man were looking, they ran into Watson and asked him to help them find the dealer.

Watson got into the car with the two men. But as they drove, Lewis turned and shot Watson, killing him.

Prosecutors said Lewis and the other man then drove to New Hampshire, where they dumped Watson’s body off Interstate-93 South.

His body was found on September 16, 1984.

On Friday, a grand jury indicted Lewis on first-degree murder.

He is due to be arraigned in Suffolk High Court on May 31.

“This was a real team effort to prosecute and prosecute a murder that stems from a very different Boston,” Hayden said.

“Brian Watson was a young father who was apparently killed on a whim. A remarkably cool temper. Mr Watson’s family has endured many, many years of loss and heartache. At least they have some answers now.”