Keith Stuart Watson
October 20, 1964 – December 23, 2025Keith Watson, chief public defender for Ingham County, died suddenly on Dec. 23 in Lansing, at the age of 61.
Visitation was Jan. 2 at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes Lansing Chapel; the family will hold a private burial at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
A Detroit native, Watson earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University, a Master’s degree from Central Michigan University, and his Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
For many years, he was an “A-level” attorney and a “Specialty Delinquency” attorney, representing both adults and juveniles accused of life offenses. He worked as a criminal defense attorney and a guardian ad litem, before joining the Office of the Public Defender.
He taught trial advocacy at Cooley Law School, taught the Trial Advocacy Program at Widener University Law School, and was a facilitator for Criminal Defense Attorneys Association of Michigan.
An Eagle Scout, at the time he was the youngest youth to receive the honor in Michigan.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Suzette Watson; step-daughters, Jayme (Daniel) Medellin, Cara Pettibone, and Paige (Danton) Lloyd; brother, David Watson; mother-in-law, Joan Piersante; and 8 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his aunt Dorothy; father-in-law, Vincent Piersante; and his grandson, Cruzito Medellin.
