By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - A killer left behind a burned 93-pound torso, scraps of clothing and a pocketknife - just enough for investigators to finally identify the victim: Jeffrey Glenn Watson.

"We haven't solved who's done it yet. But we're on their heels," Col. Richard K. Jones, Butler County sheriff's chief deputy, said Tuesday.

Watson, 41, lived in several places, including Hamilton. He had a number of run-ins with police, including some drug-related offenses. Jones said there could be "some drug involvement" in his death.

The investigation into Watson's death began Dec. 31. A pair of hunters discovered the decomposing torso on a rural roadside in Milford Township.

Dr. Beth Murray, a Hamilton County forensic anthropologist, developed a general age, height, weight and race of the victim. Descriptions of his belongings followed.

Finally, "word on the streets" led to Watson's family, Jones said.

A DNA sample, extracted from the victim's bone marrow, matched samples from his siblings.

Detectives combed several sites Tuesday for clues that might lead to whoever killed Watson. One address was in the 300 block of South 11th Street, where Watson had lived.

Watson's sister, Cassandra Taylor, 39, of Winton Place, pleaded for more help with the case from the public. "Any information would help my family out a lot," she said.

A $25,000 reward is offered. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 785-1000.

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com