Victor 'Frito' Frieson III will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars after an Alameda County jury convicted him of murder and torture in the brutal killing of his girlfriend, ceramic artist and poet Zoe Reidy Watts, authorities said.
Background
The couple had spent the evening of March 1, 2024, at Johnny Foley's Irish House in San Francisco for what prosecutors described as a date night. The pair frequently posted videos from their outings to an Instagram account where they shared restaurant reviews and other content.
Investigators later used those social media posts to establish the timeline of events. Court filings noted that Reidy Watts showed no visible bruises or cuts before the couple left the restaurant around 10:45 p.m., when they rode Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) back to Frieson's apartment at 185 15th St. in Oakland.
Surveillance footage later obtained by investigators painted a harrowing picture of what unfolded after their return home. The video showed Reidy Watts struggling to maintain her balance, at one point falling sideways into the street.
Friends and family had begun noticing injuries on Reidy Watts soon after she began dating Frieson in 2023, according to Deputy District Attorney Nick Homer's court filings. Just six weeks before her killing, she filed a domestic violence report with Oakland police that documented 'two black eyes, and her legs were covered in deep bruises.'
Reidy Watts was a student at San Francisco State University at the time of her death, building a reputation as a visual and performing artist while working as a ceramicist, clothing designer and arts instructor. She had been living in her grandparents' apartment on Turk Street in San Francisco.
The Charges
After a two-week trial, the Alameda County jury found Frieson, now 30, guilty of murder and torture for Reidy Watts' killing. Prosecutors argued that Frieson attacked her around midnight on March 1, 2024, or shortly before midnight the following night, leaving her covered in bruises, multiple cuts and a gash to her neck.
The case took a disturbing turn when prosecutors alleged that during the assault, Reidy Watts tried to escape the apartment. Surveillance video captured her final moments as she staggered outside naked and badly injured before collapsing just beyond the doorway. The footage then showed Frieson dragging her back inside by the arm and shutting the door, according to court records.
Prosecutors further argued that after the attack, Frieson went to a neighbor's apartment claiming he needed help and led the man to Reidy Watts' body while implying he did not know how she had died. Investigators alleged he cleaned the apartment before seeking assistance—another sign of guilt, according to prosecutors.
Jurors also heard evidence that Frieson had assaulted previous romantic partners and that Reidy Watts had attempted to obtain protection from him just months before her death. At trial, Frieson testified in his own defense. His attorneys admitted he committed domestic violence against Reidy Watts but argued he was not guilty of murder or torture.
Key Takeaways
- Victor 'Frito' Frieson III convicted of murder and torture for killing ceramic artist Zoe Reidy Watts after a two-week Alameda County trial
- Attack occurred following a date night at Johnny Foley's Irish House in San Francisco on March 1, 2024
- Surveillance footage showed victim struggling to walk upon returning to apartment, later escaping naked before being dragged back inside
- Prosecutors presented evidence of prior domestic violence incidents and that Reidy Watts filed a report six weeks earlier documenting injuries
- Defense admitted domestic violence occurred but argued Frieson was not guilty of murder or torture
What's Next
Frieson's sentencing is tentatively scheduled for mid-September. The conviction carries a potential sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, as prosecutors indicated they will seek the maximum penalty.
The case remains significant in the context of intimate partner violence awareness, with prosecutors highlighting Reidy Watts' documented attempts to seek protection from her abuser before her death.