By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Jeffrey Glenn Watson was shot to death in his South 11th Street home. Then, police said, a trio of longtime friends dismembered his body, burned it and discarded the remains.

Watson's relatives said the suspects acted worried after his disappearance.

"We know all of them. They've been calling me on the phone, concerned ... asking me, have I heard anything?" said Watson's sister, Cassandra Taylor, 39, of Winton Place. "I feel like hell. But I'm glad they're caught."

On Thursday, the three suspects, who were arrested Wednesday, appeared in court as authorities found more of Watson's remains.

Relatives acknowledged that 41-year-old Watson had run-ins with the law.

But they said he also was a loving brother whose acts of kindness earned him the nickname "Granddad."

Bond was set at $500,000 for Cardale A. Goens, 36, of Hamilton, who police say killed Watson. He is accused of aggravated murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.

Authorities say Goens shot Watson to death, and mutilated and discarded the remains with the help of Anthony C. Ruffin, 44, of East Price Hill and Gary Benson, 50, of Hamilton.

Their bonds were set at $20,000 each. Both are charged with tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.

All three were being held in the Butler County Jail awaiting a March 4 Hamilton Municipal Court hearing.

Investigators wouldn't discuss motive or murder weapon.

Watson's charred torso was found Dec. 31 near a Milford Township cornfield. Information from the suspects led investigators Thursday to more remains at a site 15 miles away.

"Once we put the word out on the streets who this victim was, the people on the streets were furious," said Sheriff's Lt. Mike Craft. "Even in their world, it's never okay to do something like this."

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com