Going West: True Crime

Episode 567: The Murder of Jocelyn Earnest

Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman
Release Date: December 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode examines the tragic murder of Jocelyn Earnest, a 38-year-old woman found dead in her Virginia home in December 2007. Initially ruled a suicide, mounting forensic and circumstantial evidence pointed to homicide, with her estranged husband, Wesley Ernest, emerging as the primary suspect. Daphne and Heath walk listeners through the unraveling of the case—detailing Jocelyn's life, her troubled marriage, the crime scene's discrepancies, the ensuing investigation, legal proceedings, and ultimately, Wesley's conviction.

Key Discussion Points

1. Jocelyn’s Background and Marriage

• Jocelyn Earnest (neé Branham) was born in 1969 in West Virginia.
  • Described as sunny, upbeat, and athletically talented (03:38).
  • Attended West Virginia University on a basketball scholarship, later earned an MBA from Virginia Tech.
• Met Wesley Ernest during college; married in 1995.
  • Despite outward appearances, their marriage lacked intimacy and happiness.
  • Jocelyn's sister Laura: “I never understood it. They were like polar opposites... I didn’t think he was right for her.” (06:47)
• Wesley eventually began an affair with Shameika Wright, leading to the couple’s separation (09:34).
  • The affair became public when Jocelyn caught Wesley and Shameika together.

2. The Earnests’ Financial Troubles

• The couple owned a lavish lake house, but financial stress skyrocketed:
  • Mortgage: $5,700/month (~$9,000 in today's terms).
  • Wesley’s personal debt approached $1 million, including $125,000 in credit card debt (13:31).
  • Attempted and failed to sell the lake house for its almost $3 million asking price.
  • “After overspending to impress his new girlfriend… Wesley had racked up nearly $1 million in debt.” (13:31)

3. Jocelyn’s New Relationship and Well-being

• Jocelyn began a secret relationship with colleague Marcy Shepherd, described as an emerging emotional connection rather than a romance (14:03).
  • Before her death, Jocelyn seemed "happier than she had the entire time I knew her" (15:33).

4. The Crime: Discovery and Investigation

• December 19, 2007: Jocelyn was last heard from by Marcy at 7:30pm (16:36).
• December 20, 2007: Marcy discovered Jocelyn’s body at home.
  • Car was present; house was locked and “cranked up to 90 degrees,” possibly to hasten decomposition (19:40).
  • Jocelyn’s beloved dog survived, but had been left alone in the sweltering house (19:40).
  • Questionable suicide note—typed and inconsistent with Jocelyn’s style—found near Jocelyn (19:54).
    • Forensics: Jocelyn was killed from an “awkward angle” at the back right of her head. Signs her body was moved post-mortem (20:58).
    • Gunpowder on her dominant hand suggested a defensive wound rather than self-infliction.

5. Forensic and Linguistic Evidence

• Analysis of the note and journal entries found the note inconsistent with Jocelyn's language and style (23:57).
  • Forensic linguist James Fitzgerald (FBI) concluded that the suicide note better matched Wesley's writing patterns (32:09).
  • “That’s not a suicide note, that’s a homicide note.” — Prosecutor Wes Nance (32:29)
• No evidence the note was created on Jocelyn’s computers or printer (34:24).
• Jocelyn had recorded in her diary: “If I die, Wesley killed me, and he probably shot me.” (35:18)

6. Building the Case Against Wesley

• Wesley’s fingerprints were found on the note (36:57).

  • “There’s no reason his fingerprints should be on this paper at the scene of her murder for any reason.” — Daphne (37:02)

• Wesley acted suspiciously after the murder, including a defensive reaction to a coworker's condolences (37:02).

  • The couple’s lake house burned down soon after Jocelyn's death, with Wesley receiving insurance money (38:14).

• Wesley’s alibi was shaky:

  • Claimed to be with Shameika the night of the murder, but she couldn’t corroborate it (40:56).
  • Borrowed colleague David Hall’s pickup before and after the murder, returning it with a bleach stain (41:35) and later with suspiciously new tires (43:06).
  • At tire shop, used the fake name “Tom Dunbar”; the shop owner testified the tires did not need replacing (44:21).
  • This suggested evidence disposal and effort to prevent tire track matches at potential crime/disposal scenes.

7. Defense Tactics and Trial Details

• The defense attempted to implicate Jocelyn’s friends—especially Marcy Shepherd and Mesa Muncie—as potential suspects (44:57).
  • Alleged ties to a Social Security theft scheme (46:50).
• First trial (March 2010): found guilty, but judge declared a mistrial after jurors admitted using inadmissible diary evidence (47:59).
• Second trial (November 2010): Guilty verdict without diary evidence, life sentence plus three years (49:38).

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Heath (on Wesley):
  “I mean, the fact that this guy really thought he was going to get away with it. You fucking idiot.”
  [03:04]
• Daphne (on Jocelyn’s anticipation of the holidays):
  “Most days she came in with a smile on her face. Just happy to see you. Good morning always.”
  [15:33]
• Marcy’s horrifying realization:
  “As soon as I opened the door, a wall of hot air hit me in the face. I could see Jocelyn’s legs and it just didn’t look right. She was lying on her back. She wasn’t moving. There was blood on her face.”
  [18:32]
• Forensic evidence summary:
  “Marjorie concluded once she went down, she was pulled and moved. She asserted her belief that whomever moved Jocelyn would have been there when she was shot.”
  [22:14]
• Prosecutor Wes Nance:
  “That’s not a suicide note, that’s a homicide note.”
  [32:29]
• Jocelyn’s chilling journal entry:
  “If I die, Wesley killed me and he probably shot me.”
  [35:18]
• Heath (on Wesley’s tire swapping):
  “Tires are really expensive. Right. So they question…they have brand new tires on the car…Why are you giving a fake name to the tire guy? It’s because you’re doing something really suspicious.”
  [43:06]

Timeline & Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |:----|:----| | 03:38 | Jocelyn’s Childhood & Education | | 06:07 | Meeting and Marrying Wesley | | 09:31 | Wesley’s Affair and Marital Breakdown | | 13:31 | Financial Struggles and Lake House | | 14:03 | Jocelyn’s Relationship with Marcy Shepherd | | 15:33 | Jocelyn’s Final Days and Mood | | 16:36 | Discovery Timeline: Last Seen, Body Found | | 19:40 | Details of the Crime Scene & Discovery | | 19:54 | Suicide Note and Initial Forensics | | 22:14 | Forensic Evidence: Body Moved, Gunshot Trajectory | | 23:57 | Linguistic Analysis of Note | | 32:09 | FBI Linguist Testimony – Note Authorship | | 35:18 | Critical Diary Entry: Jocelyn Warns of Wesley | | 36:57 | Wesley’s Fingerprints on Suicide Note | | 38:14 | Lake House Fire and Insurance Motive | | 41:35 | Borrowed Truck, Bleach Stain, Tire Swapping | | 43:06 | Tire Shop Testimony and Suspicions | | 44:57 | Defense Points to Jocelyn’s Friends | | 47:59 | Mistrial and Retrial Details | | 49:38 | Wesley Convicted – Life Sentence | | 50:34 | Host Reflections on the Case & Thanks |

Final Reflections

Daphne and Heath strongly condemn Wesley’s actions, emphasizing the overwhelming evidence against him—including the staged suicide, financial motives, suspicious behavior, and forensic evidence leading to his conviction. They also highlight the strain on Jocelyn’s loved ones, the twisted efforts to evade justice, and the importance of critically examining alleged suicides for foul play.

Closing Quote:
Heath: “I really feel like the smoking gun in this case was the fact that his fingerprints were on that typed letter. Had he not been such a dumbass… it probably could have gone either way.” [50:15]

If you have a case suggestion, the hosts invite you to email them at goingwestpodcastmail.com.