Despite legal twists, the murder of Shelley Watkins remains relatively unknown, but a new podcast and the family’s hopes of a new grand jury inquiry could solve it.
CORSICANA, Texas — In September of 1993, the city of Corsicana was captivated by headlines about a wealthy businessman and the murder of his beautiful wife, whose body was discovered floating in the Trinity River. Carol Dawson, a podcaster who co-produced “The Unforgotten” along with Wes Ferguson, revisited the site where Shelley’s body was found.
“Right down here, they found her about a quarter of a mile down,” said Dawson at the bridge.
Dawson and Ferguson, who have extensively documented the case, shared their research and insights with us.
Shelley Watkins, 35, was married to Jerry Mack Watkins. The couple had two young daughters and lived in Corsicana. Her sister, Sandy Cripps, remembers Shelley as a vibrant and loving woman.
“She made people laugh. She was a good soul. She was a good mom,” said Cripps.
The Last Night
Jerry Mack Watkins, who still owns Watkins Construction in Corsicana and resides in a mansion, was with Shelley and their daughters at a party at Cedar Creek Lake.
“On Labor Day night of 1993, Shelley Watkins had spent the day at the lake with her husband at a party celebrating Labor Day,” said Dawson.
According to court records, after a day of partying, Shelley and Jerry Mack had an argument that escalated from the lake to their home and into their garage.
“Shelley made it clear to him that she was ready to leave him. She was leaving him on the spot and she was going inside, wake up their daughters, and take them with her,” Dawson stated.
Jerry Mack told Shelley’s family and police that he refused to let her take the girls. He claimed that she then walked off into the night and was never seen alive again.
He has denied involvement in her death and did not return our calls or emails asking him for an interview.
“She would never ever storm off into the night on foot without her children,” said her sister.
The day after Shelley’s disappearance, police said Jerry Mack took her car to get new tires and have it cleaned. A few days later, police records indicate he took his car to a dealership to replace parts, claiming his wife had spilled paint inside.
“Like I said, he replaced all the liners. I mean, who does that? There was no paint spilled back there,” former investigator Larry Warwick said on the Unforgotten podcast.
Body is Found
On Sept. 13, 1993, seven days after her disappearance, fishermen discovered Shelley’s body in the Trinity River in Henderson County, nearly 40 miles from her home. They thought it was a package, Dawson said.
“They found the package and … discovered that it was a female body, wrapped up in black construction tarp, duct tape all the way around,” Dawson told WFAA. Shelley was “bound up in the duct tape, roped, chained to two concrete construction blocks,” she said.
Police were convinced the murder was not random. Court documents noted, “a transient murderer does not take the time to wrap a victim in such an elaborate manner.”
Three months later, authorities obtained a search warrant for the Watkins’ home. Inside, according to documents, they found the garage had been freshly painted, and the driveway had been newly paved.
“I lost my mind,” said her sister. “I couldn’t function.”
The Indictment and Shocking Legal Twist
In December 1993, Jerry Mack Watkins was indicted for Shelley’s murder in Henderson County. The case was led by District Attorney E. Ray Andrews. However, the case took a dramatic turn when Andrews was investigated for taking bribes in DWI cases. The FBI later caught him attempting to solicit $300,000 from Jerry Mack Watkins to dismiss his case.
Andrews was arrested, convicted, and sent to prison. Due to Andrew’s misconduct, a judge dismissed the case against Watkins.
“And the thing that really most upset me is that all of a sudden the shift became getting this crooked D.A. and foregoing what was really going on—that a young, beautiful woman, mother of two daughters, was brutally murdered,” said her sister.
Renewed Hope
Years later, DNA evidence was tested using new technology, but it did not match Jerry Watkins. Police now suspect more than one person may have been involved in Shelley’s death.
Her family continues to seek justice and hopes the case will soon be presented to a new grand jury. Jenny Palmer, the current Henderson County district attorney, would not talk to WFAA about the case or answer questions, saying it is an ongoing investigation.
