ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Tyron James pleaded not guilty of murder in the second degree in court on Saturday morning. There was no bail set and his preliminary hearing is on March 19.

The 61-year-old man is accused of murdering local singer Myrtle Watson in her home in September. James was taken into custody Friday and charged with murder in the second-degree.

On Sept. 14, 2024, police said they received a report of a dead person inside a home on Sixth Street. When they arrived at the scene, officers said they found Watson dead from multiple stab wounds to her upper body, investigators believing Watson had been dead for many hours before they arrived.

Police said through investigations done by homicide detectives, James was found as the suspect, as James had known Watson.

According to police, James is currently homeless and a “violent predicate felon,” who has 49 prior criminal convictions, five of which are felony convictions.

Watson was also known as “Pokie,” a local singer who traveled all around for her music career.