9-24-2025 9:19pm

Ex-Husband Charged

Man Killed Ex-Wife, Police Say After Finding Her Dead In Lutherville

A man killed his ex-wife, police said after finding her body in Lutherville. The two lived together after their divorce, a report said.

A Lutherville man was charged with killing his ex-wife, reports said.

Police announced Wednesday that they charged Karl Daniel Geiger, 65, with first-degree murder in the Sept. 15 homicide of Patricia Watson-Geiger, 69.

The cause of death was a gunshot wound, and two shell casings were found near the victim's body, charging documents obtained by WJZ said.

Before his arrest, Geiger told The Baltimore Banner he had been married to Watson-Geiger for 30 years. He told The Banner they remained friends and still lived together in the same house. Geiger also goes by Danny, The Banner said.

Online court records show that Geiger filed for divorce from Watson-Geiger in July 2018, and the divorce was finalized in July 2019.

Geiger said he left home that morning around 7:30 a.m. when Watson-Geiger was still sleeping in her bedroom, WJZ reported. The TV station said, however, gunshots were heard around 8 a.m. and Geiger's vehicle was seen leaving the area around 8:15 a.m.

Police were called to the 1200 block of Oakcroft Drive around 8:25 p.m. that night.

Officers said they found Watson-Geiger with apparent trauma to the upper body. She was pronounced dead on the scene, a press release said.

Geiger told The Baltimore Banner he found her dead in her bed after he returned from work to their shared home.

"It's like walking into your house and finding your best friend dead," Geiger told The Banner, noting that Watson-Geiger was a bartender at several businesses in the Towson area.

Geiger told The Banner the lights were off and belongings from Watson-Geiger's purse were strewn around the kitchen. Drawers were opened, and clothes and items were on the floor, Geiger told The Banner.

"It looks like someone broke into my house, and my wife's not moving," Geiger told dispatchers, the documents reviewed by WJZ said.

WJZ reported that nothing was stolen and that authorities found Watson-Geiger wearing a sleeping mask, with her body under blankets and sheets.

Geiger's bond hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 1 p.m., his case file says. He is currently being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center.

Friend Susan Tucker told WBAL-TV that Watson-Geiger "was just a very happy person."

"We talked almost every day, and I know that she was really close with her grandchildren, her daughter, her son, his wife and their kids," Tucker told WBAL, adding that "Patti took care of people. When I was sick she'd take care of me, she took care of my dog. She did a lot for people around town. She was just a wonderful person."