The Unforgotten – Season 1, Episode 10: "The Business Card"

Release Date: September 2, 2024
Hosts: Carol Dawson, Wes Ferguson
Theme: Concluding the investigation into the unsolved 1980 murder of Shelley Salter Watkins in Corsicana, Texas. The episode brings forth new witnesses, revelations, and community reflections, striving to break decades of silence.

Episode Overview

This powerful season finale pulls together 41 years of silence, suspicion, and secrets surrounding the murder of Shelley Salter Watkins. Through personal accounts, never-before-shared anecdotes, and persistent reporting, the hosts examine the community’s complicity, deepen the portrait of key figures, and ultimately attempt to pierce the wall built around truth and accountability in small-town Texas.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Community Silence and Gaslighting

• Cheryl Pruitt’s Testimony (00:01–04:51)
  • Describes Corsicana as a small, tightly knit town where silence about Shelley's murder became normalized.
  • Cheryl faced accusations and rumors during her divorce, with people believing she knew more about the murder than she admitted (02:24).
  • Connections among local elites (“realtors, bankers, lawyers, doctors”) are highlighted as barriers to truth.

“That town has been gaslit over this whole thing ... Women deserve to have the truth told about their story, and Shelly deserves that.”
— Cheryl Pruitt (01:16)

2. Personal Connections, Perks, and Suspicions

• Cheryl’s Role in the Watkins Inner Circle
  • Married to Lynn Shelton, Jerry Mack Watkins' right hand, during the events.
  • Describes the hidden perks and financial dealings within the Watkins circle, including finding unreported cashier’s checks during her divorce (07:52–11:32).
  • On the suspicious absence of action after Shelley's disappearance: Jerry Mack did not launch any search or hire private investigators; instead, was preoccupied with detailing cars and property management (31:29–32:17).

“After that, I remember Lynn came home one night and I said, you better hope there’s no cell phone records of yours. And he said, don’t worry, there’s not.”
— Cheryl Pruitt (07:48)

3. The Law, the Case, and the (Failed) Justice System

• Carol Dawson’s Attempts to Write About the Case (11:54–17:02)
  • Carol recounts trying to fictionalize the case and being discouraged by a local attorney, Glenn Sod, who subtly steered her away from implicating real people, instead toward a “serial killer solution.”
  • Glenn’s involvement in bribery negotiations connected to District Attorney E. Ray Andrews is detailed, revealing layers of local corruption.
  • The effect of legal mishandling and prosecutorial misconduct on the cold case is a recurring theme.

“Glenn was very much invested in directing me towards the idea of a serial killer ... He also, of course, very much wanted to redirect attention away from his own client, which I get.”
— Carol Dawson (15:35)

4. The Power and Presence of Jerry Mack Watkins

• At Glenn Sod’s Funeral (17:12–21:21)
  • Carol, her brothers, and others observe Jerry Mack’s public demeanor: charismatic, calm, detached, and still the focal point of a community wary of the truth.

“In retrospect ... He just seemed like such a nice guy ... How does someone with this history, this tragic history ... go from day to day?”
— Mark Dawson (18:23)

5. Unanswered Legal Questions & Ongoing Investigations

• Efforts to Contact Jerry Mack (21:21–24:37)
  • Wes details attempts to reach Watkins for a response, culminating in a tense, unsuccessful visit to his lake house.
  • Examination of the justice system’s failings: Did authorities cut deals behind closed doors to let Jerry Mack off the hook following his cooperation against DA Andrews?
  • DA Donna Little Bennett’s response is noncommittal (26:58–27:06). Scott McKee, a later DA, describes reopening the case, technological efforts, and the trial’s near-impossibility due to past prosecutorial misconduct (27:34–28:52).

“Whenever a prosecutor does something like that, it makes it extremely difficult to ever prosecute that case again ... He was prosecuted for it.”
— Scott McKee (28:52)

6. Recent Developments and Community Courage

• Renewed Law Enforcement Efforts (29:39–30:45)
  • Henderson County Investigator Victor Paris confirms the case is still active and there have been recent DNA collections.
  • Carol and Wes emphasize how the podcast has encouraged new witnesses and information to surface.

“As Corsicana residents and others realize they don’t have to be so afraid, they can step up and share information to help the investigation move forward.”
— Carol Dawson (30:45)

7. Fresh Evidence and Revelations

• Suspicious Actions After Shelley’s Disappearance (31:29–34:38)
  • Jerry Mack’s strange focus on handling Shelley's car and home details, instead of searching for her.
  • Reports of recently jackhammered and re-cemented garage floors at the long-abandoned Watkins home, a scene believed to be where Shelley’s murder happened (36:04–39:14).

8. The Truth About "The Business Card"

• Mike Russ’s Story (40:06–46:06)
  • Shelley's cousin, Mike Russ, shares a shocking memory: Jerry Mack handed a woman a "business card" listing sex acts and their prices at a Texas Rangers game, revealing a side of Jerry deeply at odds with his public persona.

“He had a sex card that he gave her with sex acts on it ... It was like a business card, but on the back it had sex acts and prices for the sex acts ... I’ll never forget that as long as I live ... And especially when he killed her, I thought, God, this guy is creepy beyond belief.”
— Mike Russ (41:30, 43:05)

• Mike's perspective on Jerry Mack: persistent affairs, detachment after the funeral, and his own belief in Jerry’s guilt (44:50).

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Cheryl Pruitt:
  “I was told during the divorce proceedings by several people: word around town is that you know who killed Shelley, and you’re holding out for money ... I was afraid.” (02:24)
• Carol Dawson:
  “I just set [the manuscript] aside and said, okay, that’s that. But I have never let Shelley go.” (17:02)
• Mark Dawson on Jerry Mack at the funeral:
  “How do they just get up in the morning ... knowing ... the Whole world believes they’re guilty?” (18:23)
• Wes Ferguson on failed attempts to reach Jerry Mack:
  “We’d given Jerry Mack every chance to speak with us ... and he’d chosen not to.” (24:37)
• Mike Russ on the business card:
  “It was like a business card, but on the back it had sex acts and prices for the sex acts ... with prices next to them.” (41:30–43:05)
• Carol Dawson, reflecting at Shelley's grave:
  “I think it’s a declaration to the entire community that, oh, look, I honor this wife with whom I had a fiery relationship ... I have not forgotten about you.” (48:17–49:26)

Episode Structure & Key Segments

• 00:01–11:32: Cheryl Pruitt’s intimate reflections and personal story.
• 11:32–17:12: Carol Dawson’s attempt to write about the case; legal and personal roadblocks.
• 17:12–21:21: Return to Corsicana for Glenn Sod’s funeral; the community’s ongoing silence.
• 21:21–24:37: Wes’s failed attempts to interview Jerry Mack; tension at his lake house.
• 24:37–28:52: Exploration of possible legal deals; conversations with former DAs.
• 29:39–34:38: Law enforcement updates and discussion of suspicious actions immediately following Shelley's disappearance.
• 36:04–39:14: New tips regarding garage renovations; ongoing leads.
• 40:06–46:06: Mike Russ’s business card revelation; personal impressions of Jerry Mack; his reaction to Shelley's funeral.
• 47:20–49:26: Carol and Wes visit Shelley's grave and reflect on her isolation and the lack of justice.

Tone & Language

The tone blends interview candor, descriptive narrative, and measured journalism. The hosts allow witnesses their full voices and are frank about their own journey, inserting personal reactions, skepticism, and hope.

Final Thoughts

The episode’s concluding message is clear: the silence surrounding Shelley's murder is cracking. Through the relentless pursuit of truth and the courage of those stepping forward, there’s renewed hope for justice and a reckoning for those who have depended on small-town loyalty and fear. The podcast team pledges to continue digging, reporting, and offering a platform for the truth.

For more information, updates, or to share tips:

• Website: unforgottenpod.com
• Facebook: The Unforgotten Podcast

Summary prepared to reflect the complexity, urgency, and humanity of The Unforgotten’s season finale—an essential record for true crime listeners, investigators, and advocates for justice.