16. Linking the Chains - The Unforgotten

Summary

The Unforgotten: Episode 16 – Linking the Chains

Release Date: June 30, 2025
Host/Authors: Wes Ferguson and Lemoyne Lohan
Production: Free Range Productions

Introduction

In Episode 16 of The Unforgotten, titled "Linking the Chains", hosts Wes Ferguson and Lemoyne Lohan delve deeper into the mysterious and unresolved murder of Shelley Salter Watkins. This episode uncovers new testimonies and connections that shed fresh light on the circumstances surrounding Shelley's disappearance and subsequent death in the Trinity River, Texas.

Unveiling New Testimonies

Wes Ferguson initiates the discussion by highlighting a surge in witnesses coming forward with long-held stories. He notes, “people have been sitting on these stories for a very, very long time” (01:02). This newfound courage among individuals has allowed previously concealed information to surface, potentially pivotal to solving the case.

Lemoyne Lohan references recent revelations about the disposal of Shelley's body, introducing two interconnected narratives that suggest a deeper conspiracy. She poses a critical question to Wes: “You have two different stories that are connected here. Which one do you want to begin with?” (02:05).

The Missing Chains: A Critical Clue

Wes recounts a significant piece of information received last summer from his hometown of Corsicana. A deathbed confession from a man named Richard, an employee at Watkins Construction, provides a potential link to Shelley's murder. Richard discovered that his truck’s chains were missing the morning after Shelley's disappearance. Initially suspecting a coworker, Richard remained silent until Shelley's body was found a week later, realizing the chains' significance. Wes emphasizes the legal importance of deathbed confessions: “deathbed confessions are not considered hearsay in court” (07:50).

Connection Through Watkins Construction

Lemoyne Lohan introduces another layer to the mystery by discussing an interview with former police officer Lemoyne Lohan. He reveals that eyewitness John McCullum saw a suspicious white luxury car near the bridge where Shelley was found, identifying Jerry Mack Watkins as the individual seen (11:06).

Lemoyne further explains how Lewis Palos, a close associate of the Watkins family and a former police sergeant, was implicated in delaying the report of Shelley's disappearance. Lewis Palos failed to notify his superior for seven days, a delay that severely hindered the investigation. Wes details the business connections between the Watkins family and Palos Enterprises, a courier service that became a pivotal element in the unfolding narrative (13:00).

Disposal of the Chains: Linking the Two Stories

The crux of this episode revolves around the mysterious removal and disposal of chains from Watkins Construction. Wesley connects Richard's missing chains to a secondary chain that Luther Palos, Lewis’s brother, was instructed to dispose of the night Shelley disappeared. Wesley theorizes that the missing chains from Richard’s truck were likely used to weight down Shelley’s body in the river, with the leftover chains then disposed of as per Carmack Watkins’ instructions (25:19).

Lemoyne Lohan prompts the importance of this connection: “...as if... the leftover chain from what was taken from Richard's truck and used to weight Shelly down.” (25:39)

Wes cautiously states, “It is purely conjecture that the chain Luther Palos was asked to dispose of was the same used to weight Shelly,” emphasizing the need for further evidence (27:10).

Impact on the Investigation and Law Enforcement Involvement

Both hosts stress the significance of these revelations in advancing the investigation. Wes confirms that all new testimonies have been shared with law enforcement, reinforcing their commitment to uncovering the truth: “Law enforcement has all of these stories” (28:37).

They appeal to listeners for any additional information or corroborating stories, urging those with knowledge to come forward and assist in piecing together the puzzle surrounding Shelley Watkins’ tragic fate (29:15).

Concluding Insights and Future Directions

In closing, Wes and Lemoyne reflect on the metaphorical significance of "linking the chains" both literally and figuratively in the context of the investigation. They acknowledge the emotional toll on Shelley’s family and reaffirm their dedication to bringing closure to the case.

Wes Ferguson concludes, “You know, it is so eye-opening and just another link in the chain of this story that we’ve been putting together for so long” (30:06).

Looking ahead, Lemoyne announces the upcoming third season of The Unforgotten, promising to cover a different case and continuing their mission to seek truth and justice for unresolved mysteries.

Notable Quotes

Wes Ferguson: “people have been sitting on these stories for a very, very long time.” (01:02)
Wes Ferguson: “deathbed confessions are not considered hearsay in court.” (07:50)
Lemoyne Lohan: “You have two different stories that are connected here. Which one do you want to begin with?” (02:05)
Wes Ferguson: “It is purely conjecture that the chain Luther Palos was asked to dispose of was the same used to weight Shelly.” (27:10)
Wes Ferguson: “You know, it is so eye-opening and just another link in the chain of this story that we’ve been putting together for so long.” (30:06)

Conclusion

Episode 16 of The Unforgotten meticulously connects disparate pieces of evidence and testimonies, weaving a compelling narrative that brings new dimensions to the unresolved case of Shelley Salter Watkins. By linking the missing chains to key individuals within Watkins Construction, Wes Ferguson and Lemoyne Lohan offer fresh insights that may push the investigation closer to the truth. Listeners are encouraged to engage with the case by sharing any pertinent information, continuing the communal effort to honor Shelley’s memory and seek justice.

For more information and to listen to the episode, visit unforgottenpod.com.

Transcript

Carol Lawson (0:02)

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Wes Ferguson (0:30)

Your burger is served.

Unknown (0:31)

And this is our finest Pepsi Zero Sugar.

Lemoyne Lohan (0:35)

Its sweet profile perfectly balances the savory.

Wes Ferguson (0:37)

Notes of your burger. That is one perfect combination.

Carol Lawson (0:43)

Burgers deserve Pepsi.

Lemoyne Lohan (0:47)

Hello, I'm Wes Ferguson.

Wes Ferguson (0:49)

And I'm Carol Lawson.

Lemoyne Lohan (0:50)

And we're back with another bonus episode of The Unforgotten Season 1, the Labor Day Ghost. Linking the chains.

Wes Ferguson (1:02)

You know, Wes, it's been so interesting over the past few months how often people will finally come forward and tell us stories that they have been sitting on for a very, very long time. We've remarked on this before and it's just interesting to see how brave people are getting and also how for so many people listening to what we have had to share, all of a sudden the penny drops and they realize that there is something that they know that they hadn't realized the full importance of before they started hearing the whole fabric of the Shelly Watkins case as it unfolded.

Lemoyne Lohan (1:42)

Yeah. And it seems like people have been reaching out to you quite a bit and you have recently uncovered some details that do shed new light on the disposal of Shelley's body. Or I should say, they seem to shed light on the disposal of Shelley's body in the Trinity River. You have two different stories that are connected here. Which one do you want to begin with?

Wes Ferguson (2:05)

Well, I want to begin with the first one that I was told. It's so interesting because as we've said before, sometimes we will get a piece of information that seems interesting and important at the time, but it's just isolated, it's by itself. And then months later, somebody else will pipe up and go, oh, yeah, by the way, this was shared with me, or this happened to me, or I saw this. And you go, oh, that links directly in with something that I was told months and months ago. It's extraordinary to me how these pieces start fitting together. And as I said, we've alluded to this before, but today we're going to share two stories that we finally have permission to share with our listeners. And one of Them was a story that I was told. Way last summer, when we had already started streaming the podcast, I was contacted by somebody in my hometown of Corsicana who told me something that they knew that they had received directly as a deathbed confession from the person who was directly involved. And this is the story. This is where it all began. On the night that Shelly Watkins vanished, which was Labor Day night, September 6, 1993, people the next morning were going to work at Watkins Construction. One of the guys who worked there was a guy named Richard. He was a truck driver, and he drove an 18 wheeler on which were often mounted large pieces of equipment for transport to different work sites. And to secure those large pieces of equipment, he had a system of chains on the back of his truck. Now, his truck was, of course, like all the other vehicles, locked up in the Watkins construction yard. And the morning after Shelly disappeared, he got to work to discover that all the chains of his truck were missing. Well, he was, of course, upset by this. He did not know what it meant. He did not know why anybody would have taken his chains unless it was another driver. He complained to the guy who was in charge of the yard that his chains had been stolen, that he had nothing to do with it, and that another driver was obviously responsible. He accused another driver of taking those chains. The other driver, of course, forcibly denied it. He still had all his chains. So this was going nowhere. So Richard had to just sit with this. Richard was the kind of guy who was very, very private. He did not, as I was told by this witness, he didn't like other people getting down in his business, and he didn't want to get down in anybody else's business. So after accusing the other driver of stealing his chains and that going nowhere, he didn't know what to think until a week later when Shelly's body was found in the river. And at that point, everything dropped into place for him. However, he did not want to get down in anybody's business. And that included the business of his boss, Jerry Mc Watkins, and Jerry Mack's father, Carmack Watkins. He wanted to quietly work, earn his paycheck, keep his job, and keep his mouth shut. And that's what he did for a number of years until he came down with cancer. And when he developed cancer and became too ill to work, he started receiving visits from his employer, Jerry Mack Watkins, who would bring him gifts of cigarettes and Crown Royal whiskey. Now, Jerry Mack has been famously known for his generosity to his employees, his kindness, and his willingness to help them out in all kinds of Situations. And that is an earmark of who he has been as an employer. That's very well known. However, according to the person who has reported this to me, and it is corroborated by a second person who also was a witness and involved, Richard did not want to be alone when Jerry Mack would come and visit. So when he knew that Jerry Mack was coming to visit him, according to this person, he would contact his. His son to be there so that his son would be present and everything would just be a smooth conversation. Eventually, Richard was on his deathbed, and he had visitors. And one of the things that he confessed on his deathbed was the story about his missing chain and that he had realized what it meant, that the chain was missing after Shelly's body was found, but that he had never told anybody and he did not want to suffer repercussions. And then he died. Now, one of the things that I have found out, Wes, and it's partly because of this, is that deathbed confessions are not considered hearsay in court. They are actually admissible in court as direct testimony.