Michael Wayne Watkins was 53 when he was fatally stabbed at BJ’s Novelty on Arcade Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky, on the evening of his birthday, December 8, 2009. A service technician who repaired pool tables and dart machines, Watkins was known as a hard worker with no known enemies; he was working late that night. Around 9:00 PM he called Louisville Metro Police to report he had been attacked. Officers found him inside the shop with a stab wound to the neck; he later died of his injuries.

The investigation produced little physical evidence and no eyewitnesses. Detectives interviewed family, friends, and colleagues but were unable to establish a motive or identify suspects, and the case eventually went cold. His family remembers him as a husband, father, and friend and continues to seek answers. If anyone has information about Watkins, please contact Louisville Metro Police.